Henry Precht, 90, a summer resident of Bridgton since 1983 and former Bridgton News columnist, died on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Washington, D.C. 

He was born on June 15, 1932 in Savannah, Ga. to Eva Middleton Davis and Herman Frederick Precht. Throughout his life, Henry retained his love for Savannah and for the friendships he made there. He attended Armstrong Junior College, where he developed a love of the Great Books and the ability to recite poetry from memory. He graduated from Emory University in 1953, the first in his family to receive a college degree. 

He joined the Navy as Lieutenant JG and served at the NATO base in Naples, Italy between 1954 and 1957, where he met Marian Olds, whom he married in 1958. Their time in Italy was the start of the couple’s lifelong love of Italy and its culture. After a short tenure at the U.S. Department of Labor, he joined the Foreign Service, securing a first posting as a consular officer in Rome in 1962. He loved Italy and Italian, which he spoke with his characteristic southern accent. His next assignment was to Alexandria, Egypt in 1964, for which he and Marian received language training in French (instead of Arabic). 

In 1966, the family returned to Washington, D.C., where Henry served as a liaison to NASA and on the Israel desk before completing a master’s degree at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Henry would return to Tufts later at the end of his career as diplomat-in-residence. In 1970, he was assigned to Mauritius as Deputy Chief of Mission, where he objected to the U.S. eviction of the residents of Diego Garcia to create a U.S. naval base. Henry subsequently served in a number of roles at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran before returning to the Department of State and heading the Iran Desk from 1978 to 1981, through the Iranian revolution and the Hostage Crisis. 

Blocked by Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) from confirmation as Ambassador to Mauritania — he was scapegoated for the fall of Iran’s Shah — he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Cairo (then the largest U.S. embassy in the world) from 1981–1985. Throughout his career, he worked to advance America’s interests in the world, while remaining true to his ideals of justice. 

After retirement from the Foreign Service in 1987, Henry became president of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs (1987–1995) and a regular opinion writer for the Bridgton News. 

Returning to Washington, D.C., he led a lunch group of retired Foreign Service Officers and published a book of semi-autobiographical short stories (“A Diplomat’s Progress,” 2005). 

The Prechts have been regular summer residents of Bridgton since 1983, enjoying a shorter visit this summer.

Henry is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marian; daughter Katherine Precht (Chris Evans); and son Paul Precht (Katayoon Tajbaksh-Precht). His grandchildren Sophia Ong, Miranda Evans and Manoucher Precht called him Nonno, continuing his strong identification with Italy. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him. 

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother David Precht. 

The family requests that those wishing to make a donation in Henry’s memory contribute to their local public library.