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1929 - 2021

BORN

1929

DIED

2021

GEORGE ZEIDENSTEIN Obituary

ZEIDENSTEIN--George, 92, died August 21, 2021, at his home in Goshen, Conn. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on July 29, 1929. He married Sondra Auerbach in 1953; they were married 68 years and lived a life of wonder. George was educated at University of Pittsburgh (BA) and Harvard Law School (JD). He dedicated his life to service to humanity. His focus was international development and improving the lives and status of women around the globe. He was a leader in reproductive health and choice. George was a volunteer civil rights lawyer in Mississippi in the Freedom Summer of 1964; Peace Corps Director in Nepal, 1965--1968; Ford Foundation representative in New York and Bangladesh, 1969--1976; and President of the Population Council, 1976--1992. Upon retirement George became a Fellow at Harvard's School of Public Health and lectured there for several years. He then became an active community member in Goshen along with his wife. George is predeceased by his wife, Sondra, and survived by Laura Zeidenstein (daughter), Louis Peter Zeidenstein (son), Colin Zeidenstein-Wilson (grandson), Julian Cavin-Zeidenstein (grandson), and Valentine Langatta-Cavin (great-grandson).

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Published by New York Times on Sep. 5, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for GEORGE ZEIDENSTEIN

4 Entries

Stacy M

September 17, 2025

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Beth Prentice, Nepal PC volunteer.

May 16, 2025

My husband and I were Peace Corps volunteers in Nepal during the time that George was director. He was a remarkable man. I think he would be please to know that, since my retirement in 2008, I have been Board President of Educate the Children (www.etc-nepal.org).

Herb Koplowitz

October 29, 2024

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal when George was country director. He was supportive, encouraging and wise. It had to be an extraordinarily challenging job. He earned the respect an affection of all of us in Nepal then.

Robert Heidel

September 10, 2021

I joined the Population Council in 1978, not too long after George became president. As an editor in the publications office, I would meet, along with colleagues, with George early each year to map out the text and other highlights to be included in the Council's Annual Report, which at the time was a full accounting of the past year's accomplishments and future directions for the organization. He would comment in detail on each of our suggestions, have us refine those he felt needed rethinking, and then give final approval. The results led to publications that not only served the Council well but for a number of years earned recognition from the Society for Technical Communication. With fond memories, Robert Heidel Population Council (ret.)

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