Dow Harold Luetscher

Dow Harold Luetscher, born in Madison, Wisconsin, died in Decatur, Georgia on October 8, 2021 shortly after his 96th birthday. He was in his home with his family, surrounded with love and support.

Dow began a life of dedicated service when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17, during WWII. He served as a combat infantryman in Company L, 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division of the Third Army, and participated in major battles in the European theater, including the Battle of the Bulge. In March 1945, he was medically evacuated to England from the vicinity of Rhens near the Rhine River and was awarded a Bronze Star for his military service. Upon discharge from the Army in August 1945, he promptly completed undergraduate and law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a J.D.

After being recruited directly from law school by one of his professors, he began his thirty-year career with the nascent Central Intelligence Agency in 1951, moving first to Washington, DC and soon to Arlington, Virginia. Until the end of his life he assiduously honored his oath to keep the secrets a secret. He balanced his work at the CIA with family responsibilities that included single parenthood with two teenagers when his wife (Mary Radcliff Luetscher) of 20 years pre-deceased him in 1972.

Dow made his retirement an active one, exploring all aspects of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. He hiked all quadrants of the Swiss Alps and most of the mountainous western U.S. National Parks. He jogged on Arlington tracks, often with friends half his age, into his early 80’s. He had a special affinity for his granddaughter, Devon Nell Brown, who made his relocation to Georgia much less distressing. Down to his last week, Dow found pleasure in jazz, his evening cocktail, reading, nature and the company of his beloved friends. He remained ever curious about people, events and ideas.

In addition to the love he shared with his son, Gregory Dow Luetscher, his daughter, Mary Lynn (Luetscher) Hemphill, son-in-law, Robert C. Brown PhD, and especially his granddaughter Devon (Nathan Tavel), Dow nurtured a host of loving and rich relationships with his extended family of neighbors on Jefferson Street, friends and even an out-law and the out-law’s wife.

No formal services are planned at this time. Recommendations for donations in his memory include Weinstein Hospice (Atlanta, GA), the CIA Memorial Foundation and any other organizations that his friends deem worthy.