Friday, June 27, 2008
Marian HumblesEqual Opportunity Specialist
Marian Humbles, 90, who worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its predecessor agencies for 41 years, died May 27 at her home in Washington. She had complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Mrs. Humbles began her federal career in 1942, when she joined the staff of the Housing and Home Finance Agency. She also worked in the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity before retiring from HUD as an equal opportunity specialist in 1983.
Over the years, Mrs. Humbles traveled the country extensively to educate members of the public about their rights and responsibilities regarding fair housing and civil rights laws administered by HUD. She also responded to the public's inquiries about HUD's fair housing programs.
She was born Martha Marian Cannon in McRae, Ga., and grew up in Wilmington, N.C. She graduated from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Virginia and began teaching typing, shorthand and other business administration courses at the Cortez Peters Business School in Washington.
Mrs. Humbles was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in the District, where she performed administrative tasks and served on the welcoming committee. She also volunteered at Arena Stage.
Her marriage to Ernest Humbles ended in divorce.
A daughter, Karen Humbles Chism, died in 2000.
Survivors include a daughter, Karla S. Humbles of Washington; and a sister.
-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb
Amanda 'Mandy' FalkMortgage Loan Officer
Amanda "Mandy" Falk, 58, a senior mortgage loan officer at Severn Savings Bank in Annapolis, died of a heart attack May 27 at Kent General Hospital in Dover, Del. She lived in Annapolis.
Ms. Falk came to Annapolis in 1974 and taught fifth grade for several years at Georgetown East Elementary School. She became a real estate agent in the late 1970s, then worked as a mortgage loan officer for several Annapolis banks.
In 1994, she joined Severn Savings Bank, where she was a senior mortgage loan officer until her death. She had a second home in Lewes, Del.
Ms. Falk was born in Los Angeles and grew up around many television and movie stars. Her father, Army Archerd, is a well-known writer about Hollywood celebrities and was a longtime columnist for Daily Variety. Her mother was an opera singer.
Ms. Falk graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and received an elementary school teaching certificate from the university in 1971.
She spoke French and Italian and sang with the Annapolis Chorale. She traveled widely and competed in 18 marathons and 26 triathlons. She ran in many races to benefit the Leukemia Foundation in honor of her former husband.
Her marriage to John H. Falk ended in divorce.
Survivors include her longtime partner, Dennis Williams of Annapolis; three children from her marriage, Joshua E. Falk, Daniel E. Falk and Lara D. Wilson, all of Annapolis; her father and stepmother, Selma Archerd, of Los Angeles; and a brother.
-- Matt Schudel
Richard H. FreemanTrade Magazine Publisher
Richard H. Freeman, 79, a retired publisher of trade magazines and former District resident, died June 24 of complications of lung cancer at Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service in Copley, Ohio. He had been a resident of Akron, Ohio, since 1998.
Mr. Freeman was born in Milwaukee and grew up in River Falls, Wis. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1950 and served in the Air Force during the Korean War.
He worked briefly in Minneapolis for the Pillsbury Co. and then joined the Meredith Corp., publisher of Better Homes and Gardens, in Des Moines. He also held a number of publishing and marketing positions in Chicago, Detroit and New York before moving to the District in 1976.
In Washington, he managed publications for the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Hot Dip Galvanizers, the National Solid Waste Management Association and the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. He retired in 1995.
He won numerous news writing, publishing, design and marketing awards from American Business Press Inc., the American Society of Association Executives and the Business and Professional Advertising Association, among others.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Eleanor Harris Freeman of Akron; four daughters, Christine A. Freeman of Montgomery, Ala., Sarah J. Freeman of Whitefish Bay, Wis., Margaret E. Freeman-Karcewski of Middletown and Laura E. Freeman-Clark of Tallmadge, Ohio; a stepsister; and seven grandchildren.
-- Joe Holley