28°
CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. - Peter D. Whitney, a Chappaqua native, economist and former diplomat, died Feb. 9 in Arlington, Va. He was 68.
Whitney was the former director of economic policy for Latin America and the Caribbean for the U.S. Department of State. He also worked as a professor and senior advisor.
Born in New York City, he was the son of the late Donald and Phoebe Whitney. He grew up in Chappaqua and went on to live in Virginia, North Carolina and Japan.
He received a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton University, a master's degree in economics from Vanderbilt University and a master's in public administration from Harvard University.
As a diplomat, Whitney served in the U.S. Foreign Service as deputy chief of mission, economic counselor, consul and economic officer to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Jamaica, Japan and Portugal.
Whitney was also a former economist in residence at American University in Washington, D.C., adjunct professor at Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in Durham, N.C. and economics professor at Sophia University in Tokyo and University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.
He published books on foreign trade policy and economic development, including the second edition of Fundamentals of U.S. Foreign Trade Policy. Described as a lover of botany, he also served as president of Botanical Society of Washington in 2001.
Surviving are his wife Martha Overholser, son Tyson, daughter Vanna, sister Mary Hoch and two granddaughters.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday at Beecher Funeral Home in Pleasantville, followed by burial at Fair Ridge Cemetery in Chappaqua.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Immanual Presbyterian Church, 1125 Savile Lane, McLean, Va., 22101 or the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4002018,Des Moines, Iowa, 50340-2018,
Click here to follow Daily Voice Chappaqua and receive free news updates.
