Robert P. Coe ’57

Bob died Feb. 5, 2024, in Bethesda, Md.

He came to Princeton from St. Mark’s School near his home in Massachusetts. At Princeton, he majored in history and joined Prospect Club, where he participated in intramural sports. He was also a member of Whig-Clio and the International Relations Club. Senior year he roomed with John Dewey, Tim Sherwood, and Rinn-Sup Shinn.

Following graduation Bob earned a master’s degree in teaching at Wesleyan University, taught at two high schools in Massachusetts, and then obtained a master’s degree in history at Columbia. In 1962, he joined the foreign service, with postings in Bolivia, Ghana, Chile, India, and Washington, D.C. In 1967, he married Jane Meleney, a graduate of St. Lawrence University and former Peace Corps volunteer, and they had two children, Cathleen and Cynthia, both born in Chile. He became an expert in economics in developing countries, going back to Ghana as the economics officer of the American Embassy and then working for a foreign company publishing economics reports. Upon retiring Bob and Jane moved to Bethesda, where Bob taught 49 courses for the Lifelong Learning Institute of American University. He was also active in Bethesda Help, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Nature Conservancy.

Bob was predeceased by his brother, John ’60. He is survived by his wife, Jane; their two daughters; two grandchildren; his brother Peter; and their families.