Geri M. Joseph
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Geraldine Mack Joseph (June 19, 1923 – October 16, 2023) was an American journalist, academic, political figure, and diplomat who served as the
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands The United States diplomatic mission to the Netherlands consists of the embassy located in The Hague and a consular office located in Amsterdam. In 1782, John Adams was appointed America's first Minister Plenipotentiary to Holland. According t ...
.


Life and career

Geraldine Mack was born in
Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
, Minnesota, on June 19, 1923. She graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota in 1946 and became a staff writer for the '' Minneapolis Star-Tribune'' where she worked until 1953. In 1948, she worked as a speechwriter for Hubert H. Humphrey during his successful campaign for United States Senator. In 1956, she was active in the campaign of Adlai Stevenson. From 1962 to 1963, she became a member of the National Commission on Youth Employment, and from 1962 to 1967 she served on the National Institute of Mental Health Advisory Council. She served on the National Commission on Income Maintenance Programs from 1967 to 1969. Joseph served as President of the National Mental Health Association from 1968 to 1969. Active in
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
politics, Joseph served as Chairwoman of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. In 1959, she was named a member of the
Democratic National Committee The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the governing body of the United States Democratic Party. The committee coordinates strategy to support Democratic Party candidates throughout the country for local, state, and national office, as well a ...
from Minnesota and in 1968, she became Vice Chairwoman of the DNC. From 1972 to 1978, she was a contributing editor and columnist for the ''
Star Tribune The ''Star Tribune'' is the largest newspaper in Minnesota. It originated as the ''Minneapolis Tribune'' in 1867 and the competing ''Minneapolis Daily Star'' in 1920. During the 1930s and 1940s, Minneapolis's competing newspapers were consolida ...
''. In 1977, she was appointed to the U.S. Commission on Mental Health. Joseph was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands in 1978 and served until 1981. From 1983 to 1993, Ambassador Joseph was a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota's
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs is a public policy and planning school at the University of Minnesota, a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named after Hubert H ...
. Joseph served as a member of the
Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, mi ...
and a member of the Carleton College Council. She was also a member of the board of directors for companies, including Honeywell, Hormel,
Northwestern Bell Northwestern Bell Telephone Company served the states of the upper Midwest opposite the Southwestern Bell area, including Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska. History Early beginnings It has never been definitively estab ...
, and
Northwestern National Bank Norwest Corporation was a banking and financial services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. In 1998, it merged with Wells Fargo & Co. and since that time has operated under the Wells Fargo name. History Early formation Th ...
.


Personal life

Her husband Burton M. Joseph was a commodities broker with whom she had three children, sons Scott and Jon and daughter Shelley Joseph Kordell. In 2003, Joseph Kordell was shot and killed at the Hennepin County Government Center by her cousin Susan Berkovitz, with whom she was involved in a property dispute. Her attorney, Richard Hendrickson, was also wounded in the attack. Berkovitz was convicted and is serving a life sentence. Joseph died on October 16, 2023, at age 100.


Awards

Joseph received honorary doctorates from Bates College, Macalester College, and Carleton College. She was also recognized by the University of Minnesota's School of Journalism, the
Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is an international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States specializing in civil rights law. It was founded in late Septe ...
, and the Humphrey Institute. She and her husband were Jewish and were active in their congregation.Glenn Fowler, New York Times
Leader in Struggle for the Rights of Minorities; Burton Morris Joseph
November 15, 1976


References


Sources

* Office of the Historian, U.S. department of State
Record of Appointment, Geri M. Joseph
accessed December 31, 2012 {{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Geri M. 1923 births 2023 deaths Jewish American journalists Writers from Minneapolis University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication alumni Minnesota Democrats Ambassadors of the United States to the Netherlands American women ambassadors American women centenarians 20th-century American Jews 20th-century American women journalists 20th-century American journalists 20th-century American diplomats Jewish centenarians