Lin Sloan

Lin Sloan passed away at Community Hospital at age 94 on July 4 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Pasadena, California, the only child of James Orrick Sloan and Zeruah Larrabee Sloan. At the age of seven, the family moved to Portland, Oregon. He attended Westmoreland High School, where he served as student body president, and the University of Oregon, where he earned his BA in political science. Lin's interest in international development led him to The Asia Foundation, a non-profit grant-making organization that supports socio-economic development in Asia. During 18 years with The Asia Foundation, he lived throughout Asia and was Director of offices in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Korea, as well as Assistant Director in Japan. Over the years, he also developed an interest in the making of foreign policy, which took him to Washington, D.C., to work for the U.S. Congress. For many years he worked on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations, Asia Subcommittee, and then the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Asia Subcommittee. His last position was as Director of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, a U.S. government agency that supports educational exchange with Japan established by the late Senator Jacob Javits.It was at The Asia Foundation that he met his future wife, Judy. They resigned from their jobs, married a month later in 1978, and embarked on a year-long odyssey through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Throughout their 45-year marriage, they enjoyed seeing the world together and had the good fortune to explore more than 60 countries. Lin was a quiet soul who enjoyed his books, classical music, and keeping abreast of international politics. He was a committed conservationist. In his later years, he avidly studied and supported numerous conservation organizations. Most of all, he delighted in following the careers of his children and grandchildren, all of whom have also become international explorers just as he was.He leaves behind his wife, Judy, son Christopher Sloan, daughter Nancy Sloan, and six grandchildren: Daniel, Jessica, Andrew, Oliver, Iola, and Leif. He is predeceased by his first wife, Lois Ina Petersen (1930-1961), and his eldest son, Tod Stratton Sloan (1953-2018). The family will be forever grateful for the excellent care Lin received for many years at CHOMP and Stanford Cancer Center, especially from Drs. Eila Skinner, Craig Stauffer, M. Zach Koontz, David Straface, Thomas Kehl, Michael Galloway, and, in his last days, from Jon Hausdorff. A celebration of life is planned for a later date.