Jack B. Kubisch

SOUTHERN PINES, NC - Ambassador Jack B. Kubisch, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and Ambassador to Greece, died in his sleep at age 85 in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Ambassador Kubisch held presidential appointments from six presidents, attaining the rank of career minister in the Foreign Service. He was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and the French Legion d'Honneur Award, rank of Commander. During his Foreign Service career, Kubisch served in embassies in Brazil, France, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Greece. As U.S. Charge d'Affaires to France 1971-1973, Ambassador Kubisch assisted with the Vietnam peace negotiations. He also supervised the diplomatic contacts between the U.S. and China, which led to the establishment of liaison offices in Washington and Beijing. In 1973 he was appointed assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs and U.S. coordinator of the Alliance for Progress in Latin America. He was U.S. Ambassador to Greece from 1974 to 1977 and then vice president of the National Defense University until 1979. Kubisch attended officer training at the University of Notre Dame in 1941-42, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. During the 1950s, he was export manager for Bendix Home Appliances in South Bend and president of Great Northern Distributors, Inc. In 1944, Jack Kubisch married Constance Rippe of South Bend, and they spent 63 years together. Kubisch is survived by his wife, Connie, their four children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in a private ceremony for family members.