Robert Francis “Bob” Jordan
May 25, 1927 - August 24, 2024
Beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and mentor, Bob Jordan passed away Saturday, August 24, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas, at the age of 97. Bob had a special gift for words and language, which he shared with friends, family and colleagues around the world with humor, grace and empathy. He spoke four foreign languages as part of a 50-year career in diplomacy and foreign relations. He was an avid reader and solver of crossword puzzles. Throughout his long life, Bob charmed family and friends with his exceptional wit and storytelling.
Bob was born and raised in Framingham, Massachusetts. He served overseas in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947 and then attended the University of Massachusetts, graduating in 1951. He also attended Boston College Graduate School and the University of Mexico in Mexico City. From 1951 to 1956 he taught high school Algebra and Spanish.
In 1956, Bob started a diplomatic career in the Foreign Service that spanned Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, Italy (Sicily), Ireland, Portugal, Cuba, the Philippines and Brazil. In those American embassies and consulates he served as a Public Affairs Officer of the United States Information Agency (USIA), with responsibility for U.S. government press and cultural exchange programs. He was president of the Fulbright Commission in several countries and was also president of the Government of Ireland’s scholarship board. Bob traveled to more than 100 countries during the course of his professional career.
Bob received several meritorious and superior honor awards from USIA, the Department of Defense and the Department of State. He also received the Order of Merit from the Government of Portugal. He was chosen several times to organize press facilities for the White House Press Corps for overseas visits of U.S. presidents. His distinguished record of service was read into the Congressional Record of the 112th Congress on May 9, 2012.
Although he formally retired from the Foreign Service in 1992, Bob was later asked to return to service by the USIA and the Department of State to conduct policy inspections in more than 20 embassies worldwide. From 1995-2001, he worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, handling the Spanish-speaking media on disasters around the country. In retirement, Bob also served as Vice President for International and Government Affairs at the US-Asia Institute, where he accompanied numerous congressional staff delegations to China and Singapore.
Bob was a lifelong learner and always full of curiosity, which served him well as he and his family traveled the world for his diplomatic career. He was also a lifelong fan of the Red Sox and Patriots, which did not serve him as well (that is, until the 21st century came around).
Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth (Bette) Jordan. He is survived by his children, Linda Sjerven (Jay), Michael Jordan and David Jordan (Mary Ann); grandchildren Doug Winnard (Claire), Diane Winnard (Joseph Hershewe), Kathleen Dukette (Joe), Connor Jordan and Kyle Jordan; and great-grandchildren Cora Winnard, Philip Winnard, Vivian Winnard, Grant Winnard, Jillian Hershewe and Lydia Hershewe.
