John Phillipp Becker

March 28,1936 – February 11, 2025

John P. Becker, aged 88, passed away on February 11, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. Born on March 28, 1936, to Addison and Beulah Becker, John graduated from Winchester High School in Massachusetts (Class of 1954). He earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University (Class of 1958) and later received a master's degree from Boston University in International Relations.

John served in the US Army from 1958 to 1961 and attended the Monterey Language School in Monterey, California, where he met his future wife, Priscilla Clark. He then embarked on a career as a Foreign Service Officer, specializing in political and labor issues. From 1961 to 2005, John's diplomatic career took him and his family to various postings around the world including Germany (Stuttgart, Berlin, and Bonn), Canada (St. John, New Brunswick and Ottawa), India (New Delhi), Austria (Vienna), Israel (Tel Aviv), and Washington, DC (where he contributed to the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty and issues related to Micronesia). John and Priscilla traveled widely and enjoyed the many cultural and artistic opportunities in their various posts. John concluded his career with the Department of State's Office of World War II Reparations, working on art restitution issues.

John was a true public servant known for his dedication to family, career, and community. Those who knew him appreciated his loyalty, humility, hard work, strong ethical principles and subtle sense of humor. As a young man, John was an Eagle Scout. He was an enthusiastic cross-country runner in high school and college and finished the 1968 Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 37 minutes. He was an avid gardener. John's life-long passion for music began in childhood. He was the drum major in his high school band and later sang with the Augustinerkirche Choir in Vienna, Austria, and with the Metropolitan Chorus, Arlington Chorale, and the Arlingtones Barbershop Chorus in Arlington, Virginia. He was also active with the Arlington Rotary Club. John and Priscilla attended countless musical performances around the world and particularly enjoyed events at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

John was devoted to his wife and two daughters and was actively involved in the lives of his four grandchildren. John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Priscilla Clark Becker; daughters, Joan Becker Kelsch (Thomas) and Alison Becker Weems (Weyman); sister, Eleanor Becker (Robert Huseby); brother, Robert Becker (Nanette); and his cherished grandchildren William, Tucker, Adeline, and Mason.

John's life will be celebrated in a service in the spring. Contributions in John's memory may be sent to the Arlington Community Foundation at https://bit.ly/johnbecker.