U.S. Ambassador to Albania Dies Suddenly

The AATDA is saddened by news of the death of U.S. Ambassador Joseph Limprecht yesterday in Albania. The following is a press release from the U.S. State Department.

Secretary Colin L. Powell
Washington, DC
May 20, 2002

The United States Ambassador to Albania Joseph Limprecht died suddenly of a heart attack yesterday, May 19, 2002, while hiking with his wife and colleagues in Northern Albania. The State Department is deeply saddened by Ambassador Limprecht’s untimely death, and we extend our sincerest condolences to his family –his wife, Nancy and daughters, Alma and Eleanor – as well as his friends and colleagues.

Ambassador Limprecht was a career Foreign Service officer who assumed his duties in Tirana in September 1999 and was in the final weeks of a very successful three-year tour.

Joining the State Department in 1975, Ambassador Limprecht had a distinguished career in which he served in multiple and varied assignments, in Washington, DC and overseas in Germany, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. In recognition of his talents and contributions, he had received several State Department honor awards.

After a ceremony in Tirana this week, his wife will accompany his remains to the United States.