JAMES N. LEAKEN, age 85, Foreign Service Officer, Ret., U. S. Department of State, died August 4 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jim had a long, wonderful life and his family was his greatest love and joy. He also loved dogs, a good book, Grand Marnier souffle, spiffy dressing, traveling the world, especially to Paris, and fresh trout for breakfast at his straw bale cabin in the mountains. The last survivor of six children born to Richard M. and Lillian E. Leaken, he died of complications from acute bronchitis. He was born in Minneapolis, MN where he lived until age 14 when his family moved to Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles High School. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1943 at age 18, serving as a signalman on LCI #409 (Landing Craft/ Infantry) during World War II. He participated in D-Day at Normandy when his small craft ferried troops to Omaha Beach. He was selected to represent his ship in the U. S. Navy’s V-12 Program at Princeton University in New Jersey. He attended Redlands University in California and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. He did post-graduate studies at the American Institute for Foreign Trade (later Thunderbird University) in Phoenix. Jim joined the U. S. Department of State Foreign Service in 1950, assigned to the American embassies in Costa Rica and El Salvador. While posted to Madrid in 1952 he met his future wife, the former Mary Kathryn Roberts, also assigned there. They married in 1954 in Paris and were transferred a year and a half later to Moscow for two years. Other postings included South Africa where his daughter was born, Nigeria where his son was born, Switzerland, Poland, Mexico, two separate tours of duty in Washington, DC, and the Philippines where he retired in 1976 as Counselor of Embassy for Administration. He then became a consultant to, among others, the State Dept. Security Enhancement Program, and the U. S. contingent of the Multinational Forces and Observers in Israel. He also was detailed to embassies in Czechoslovakia, France and Saudi Arabia. He retired to Columbus, MS (his wife’s place of birth) where they were affiliated with the family travel business and organized small groups on trips to exotic places. After his death, a tattered list of the Wonders of the World was found in his wallet. They made a happy move to Santa Fe in 2005 to be near their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, older brother Dick, twin brother Jack, and three sisters–Mary, Lucille and Betty. Survivors include his wife Kathryn of 56 years, daughter Kitty Leaken (Daniel Gibson) and son Richard Leaken (Samantha Silver), all of Santa Fe; nieces Nora Alkadis (Nick) of Venice, CA and Gina Erlichman (Robert) of Santa Fe; and brother-in-law Larry Dalen, also of Santa Fe. Survivors from his wife’s side include, brother-in-law William E. Roberts III (Kate), niece Mary Margaret Roberts and nephew Porter Roberts, all of Columbus, MS; nephew William E. (Rob) Roberts IV (Tina) of Fayette, AL; and nieces Candace Miller of Arlington, VA and Helen Bertholf of Bethesda, MD. A man of endearing charm whose presence filled a room and a friend to many: he always had a twinkle in his eye for those he loved. A graveside service will be held October 9, 2010 when he will be buried alongside his mother and twin brother at historic Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, MS. Memorials can be made to the Senior Living Foundation of the American Foreign Service, 1716 N. St. NW, Washington, DC 20036, an organization providing assistance to Foreign Service seniors in need.