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Constance Freeman Obituary
CONSTANCE JANE FREEMAN "Connie" 7/3/1945 â€" 11/4/2023
Constance Jane Freeman was born during a thunderstorm on July 3, 1945, in Washington DC.
She grew up in Minneapolis and attended her first two years of high school at the University of Minnesota's Laboratory School. She graduated with honors from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1963, after which she spent a year on an International Christian Youth Exchange in Germany.
Connie graduated from American University's School of International Service in 1969 with a degree in International Relations. She earned her PhD from University of Denver in 1976, where she studied economic development in India and China.
Connie spent much of her adult life overseas, establishing her professional career and developing a lifelong appreciation for Africa. In the 1970s, she taught at the University of Zambia and served as Peace Corp Director in Congo-Brazzaville and Cameroon. She also spent time working in Asia and Africa as a staffer for the Foreign Relations Committee.
She spent 15 years with the US State Department starting 1983, working on economic policy in India, throughout Africa, and mostly extensively in Kenya. Upon her retirement from the foreign service, Connie spent 10 years in Kenya as Regional Director for Southern and Eastern Africa at the International Development Research Centre. Throughout her life, her work interests focused on women in developing countries and rural economic development.
Later in life Connie returned to Washington, DC and taught graduate courses in African Studies at Syracuse University. She continued to travel, enjoyed discussing politics, and maintained many international friendships.
She is preceded in death by her mother Jane Freeman, past President of the Girl Scouts, and her father Orville Freeman, Governor of Minnesota (1955-1961) and US Secretary of Agriculture (1961-1969). She is survived by family in Minnesota; brother Mike; dear friend Terry; nieces Katie and Beth and nephew Matthew.
A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m. in the Montgomery Station Clubhouse at Riderwood Senior Living, 3120 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD. More information at www.borgwardtfuneralhome.com/obituary/Constance-Freeman
Memories and Condolences
for Constance Freeman
14 Entries
Kathy Kline
December 3, 2025
I knew Connie when we both attended SIS in Washington, DC. I only wish I had kept up with her as we shared many interests that I have only read about.
Charles Ray
December 28, 2024
I will always remember fondly the lunches Connie and I had at the old restaurant near the MARC Station not far from Grovsenor Metro, and our conversations about our experiences in Africa. She was an encyclopedia of knowledge about the world.
Kathy Kline
December 18, 2024
I remember Connie from our time together at SIS. I only wish we had reconnected after graduating as our paths were similar as was our love of travel and service.
Andrew Mayer
March 5, 2024
Prof Freeman's Africa course with Syracuse/Center for Strategic and International Studies was very informative and brought in guest speakers from a wide swath of the international sector. The course brought a side of Africa only Prof Freeman could provide. Now knowing her Mother was the Girl Scout President is very telling of Prof Freeman's adventurous and focused life with Africa. My condolences to the Freeman Family.
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Han
January 19, 2024
I met Connie in Beijing where she taught in my masters program. There was so much to learn from Connie´s life and time living abroad. I´m so glad we were able to keep in touch over the years, especially when I moved back to DC for a bit and we could meet up in person for a nice meal and catch up. I´ll always be grateful for her friendship.
My condolences to the family.
Yoon Jung Park
January 17, 2024
I had dinner with Connie at Riderwood at the end of September and just made a note in my planner to touch base with her for a catch up! Connie and I met, I believe, at a China-Africa event at SAIS. We connected over our respective time spent and love for Kenya. Over the past 5-6 years, we guest lectured for one another -- she for my Social Change in sub-Saharan Africa course at Georgetown, and I for her African Development course at Syracuse's DC program. We got together for regular lunches, often in Garrett Park's Black Market Bistro, one of her favorites. Connie -- I'll miss our chats and those lunches.
Jen Caviness
January 17, 2024
Dr. Freeman was an incredible professor who opened my world and my mind. She made an impact on my life that I can never put into words. Thank you for all of the knowledge Connie
Karen Fleischman Foreit
January 16, 2024
Connie was one of my closest friends in high school. We reconnected half a century later and were amazed and thrilled to find that we had both spent our careers in international development. Sadly, we lost touch again. To her family, my deepest condolences. She will be very much missed. May her memory be for a blessing.
Areig Elhag
January 16, 2024
A very sad news, but I can say I'm fortunate that this wonderful lady was my professor at the university. I benefited greatly from her experience and extensive knowledge. She was very interested in my discussions about Sudan and always asked me to talk about this African country from the perspective of my affiliation and life there. Her lecture was different and special for me.
I hope her soul rests in peace!
Areig Elhag
January 16, 2024
A very sad news, but I can say I'm fortunate that this wonderful lady was my professor at Syracuse university. I benefited greatly from her experience and extensive knowledge. She was very interested in my discussions about Sudan and always asked me to talk about this African country from the perspective of my affiliation and life there. Her lecture was different and special for me.
I hope her soul rests in peace!
Charles A. Ray
January 16, 2024
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Kathy Kline
January 5, 2024
I remember sharing with Connie our love of international work and adventures while at SIS.
Charlotte Jones-Carroll
January 4, 2024
I was an AU SIS classmate (same age, different year since she took gap year) and similar career. Sort of a shock to learn of Connie's passing, since she was so vibrant a person. My condolences.
Teresa Clark meadows
January 3, 2024
Connie was my wonderful neighbor at tuckerman station in Rockville, Md. she was quite the woman! My sympathy to all her family here in the United States and all over the world!
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Memorial Events
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Jan
20
Memorial service
10:30 a.m.
Montgomery Station Clubhouse at Riderwood Senior Living
3120 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD
Funeral services provided by:
Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A.4400 Powder Mill Rd., Beltsville, MD 20705
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