Remembering Ambassador Thomas Melady
We are saddened to announce the passing of Council member Dr. Thomas P. Melady. Ambassador Melady, who served as a CAA Fellowship program mentor for several years, died on January 6 at his home in Washington, DC at the age of 86.
Ambassador Melady was born March 4, 1927, in Norwich, Connecticut. After serving in the Army, he became one of the first members of his family to attend college, graduating in 1950 from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He received a master’s degree in 1952 and a doctorate in 1954, both in political science from Catholic University.
Ambassador Melady was appointed by President Richard Nixon as Ambassador to Burundi in 1969, Senior Advisor to the US delegation to the UN General Assembly in 1970, and Ambassador to Uganda from 1972 to 1973. His two diplomatic posts in Africa came during the height of the Cold War, when the intersection of diplomacy and intelligence were critical to the success of our diplomatic representation on that continent.
His service at the Vatican came at another pivotal time, the impending collapse of the Soviet empire, which involved significant contributions by Pope John Paul II. As one of America’s most prominent lay Catholic leaders, Ambassador Melady began this diplomatic appointment as Ambassador to the Holy See in 1989 at the request of President George H.W. Bush.
In addition to his senior diplomatic posts, Ambassador Melady served as President of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut and as Assistant Secretary for Post-secondary Education under President Ronald Reagan. In January 2002, he was appointed Professor and Senior Diplomat in Residence at The Institute of World Politics.
Ambassador Melady was an authority on Sub-Saharan Africa and Balkan Affairs and was the author of 16 books and over 180 articles, including several for the Council’s publication, The Ambassadors REVIEW. Twenty-nine universities conferred honorary doctorates on him. He also was honored by the Vatican and six countries. In 2007, he was awarded the Grand Cross by the Order of Malta.
Ambassador Melady is survived by his wife Dr. Margaret Melady, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
A wake will be held on Sunday, January 12 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. It will take place at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home (5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC).
Ambassador Melady’s funeral mass is scheduled for Monday, January 13, at 10:00 a.m. It will take place at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle (1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC). There will be a reception immediately following the funeral at the Army Navy Club (901 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC).
In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family requests that contributions be made to the Order of Malta, Federal Association’s Lourdes Endowment Fund. To make a contribution, please send a check made payable to The Lourdes Endowment Fund to the Federal Association’s Office (1730 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036). Please note that the contribution is in memory of Ambassador Melady. You may also follow this link to make an on-line contribution: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/inmemory.
Ambassador Melady's oral history is available on the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training's website. It can be found by clicking the following link. http://www.adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Melady,%20Thomas.toc.pdf
