Constance Jane Freeman

Constance (Connie) Jane Freeman (7/3/1945 – 11/3/2023) was born during a thunderstorm on July 3, 1945, in Washington DC, where her father was on assignment with the Marine Corp after being shot in the South Pacific.

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 subsequently earned her PhD from University of Denver in 1974, where she studied economic development in India and China.

Connie spent much of her adult life overseas, where she established her professional career and developed 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 India, Pakistan, and East Asia, as well 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 additional 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 the role of women in developing countries and rural economic development.

Later in life Connie returned to the Washington DC area 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 celebration of Connie's life will be held Saturday, January 20, at 10:30am in the Maryland Room at Montgomery Station, 3120 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904-5842, at Riderwood Senior Living Community in Silver Spring, MD

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to one of the following Kenyan organizations:

Lewa Downs, wildlife conservatory, at www.lewa.org/donate/ .

Kituo Cha Sheria, grassroots justice organization, at kituochasheria.or.ke

To Join the Dr. Constance J. Freeman Memorial Celebration via Zoom Meeting, follow the link below and register and a link to watch the short speaking program will be made available to you.
https://mncounties-org.zoom.us/j/86704595453?pwd=b05hdFNwc1Z1ZU9sSXA4ZmZSY0xYUT09