A decade later - Fundação Luso-Americana

When Donald Richard Finberg asked his
secretary Luisa Gomes to “tome assento,”
which is intentionally fractured Portuguese
for “take a seat,” he was not only displaying
his courteousness, but his penchant
for humor. Gomes, currently the head of
FLAD’s administrative services, recalls the
first president of the Foundation’s
Executive Council vividly: “He was very
competent, self-assured, and organized.
He was also very stubborn and to-thepoint;
a man with no skeletons in the
closet. And he appreciated it when people
acted the same way toward him.” Gomes’
three short sentences basically summarize
the opinion of many others who were
close to the diplomat, who died on April
25 th in McLean, Virginia.
The personality, upbringing, and experience
of the man – born on November 23,
1931 in Baltimore – contributed in heaping
doses to molding a free-spirited, fiercely
independent person who was highly
principled. A Princeton graduate in public
administration and public relations, Finberg
joined the Agency for International
Development, part of the US State
Department, in 1960. As the member of
an agency to promote economic cooperation
with developing countries, Finberg
was posted to Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru
until finally obtaining a position with the
US Embassy in Portugal, where he remained
until 1985. With the rank of minister-
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proFiLe
donald Finberg: FLAd’s first president
An independent spirit
with a sense of purpose
“Finberg had all the qualities I associate with the United States: simplicity, merit,
and solidarity,” stated a former employee of the US embassy, who worked closely
with FLAD’s first president. Diplomat and administrator Donald Finberg carried out
his professional activities according to the highest ethical standards, which left
an indelible mark on the Luso-American Foundation. His sense of fellowship,
humor, and courteousness also left a lasting impression on friends and co-workers,
who miss him and remember him fondly.
By isABeL mArques dA siLvA
Former portuguese president mário soares (left) with donald Finberg in the 80s.
Parallel no. 6 | FALL | WINTER 2011
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