Andrew E. Rice, member of group that helped create the Peace Corps, dies at 87

Andrew E. Rice, 87, a member of the research group whose work led to the creation of the Peace Corps and who also served as the chief operating officer at the Society for International Development, died June 1 at his home in Cabin John of complications from liver cancer.

With Maurice L. Albertson and Pauline E. Birky, Dr. Rice co-authored "New Frontiers for American Youth: Perspective on the Peace Corps" (1961), which laid the groundwork for the basic design of the Peace Corps.

In 1957, Dr. Rice helped form the Society for International Development, an organization that fosters development programs around the world. He worked there until his retirement in 1980. Previously, he was president and chairman of the International Development Conference, a cooperative of U.S. non-governmental organizations.

Andrew Eliot Rice, a Boston native, graduated from Harvard University in 1942 and received a doctorate in international development from Syracuse University in 1960. During World War II, he served in the Army.

Since the 1970s, Dr. Rice was a member and past chairman of the board of directors of the Worldwatch Institute, an environmental research center. He also was a past president of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area.

During the 1990s, Dr. Rice was an adjunct professor at American University's School of International Service. For the past 15 years, he wrote a historical column for the Cabin John Village News. He was a cellist with the Symphony of the Potomac since the early 1970s.

His marriage to Peggy Rice ended in divorce. A son from that marriage, Peter Rice, died in 2006.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Constance Bergfors of Cabin John; one son from his first marriage, William Rice of Washington; two sons from his second marriage, Stefan Rice of Helsinki and Dr. Brandt Rice of Blue Hill, Maine; a brother; a sister; and two grandchildren.

-- Lauren Wiseman