Thomas Chapin Braman ’61

Tom died Jan. 18, 2025, in Palm Coast, Fla., his home for more than 20 years. Born in Princeton, he came to us from The Gunnery, which was founded by his great-great-grandfather in 1850. We know little about his life at Princeton, as he transferred to Franklin and Marshall College and went on to earn an M.A. and a Ph.D. at the University of Florida in Latin American studies and history.

Then ensued a remarkable 40-year career in the CIA that took him to more than 50 countries as an intelligence analyst and operations officer in the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia. Tom spoke of his career as “relatively inconsequential but eventful,” which was a gross understatement. He had six assignments in Iraq, and he was captured by insurgents in Lebanon in 1979. There is so much more; among his many interesting experiences, he once slept in the bed of former KGB Chief Lavrentiy Beria in Moscow. He was also a loyal Florida Gator who served his alma mater in several capacities.

Tom is survived by Lillian, his wife of many years, whom he met in South America while writing his Ph.D. dissertation on post-coup Chile. He is also survived by a sister and a brother.