PIERSTORFF CAROL NANCY PIERSTORFF Carol Nancy (Armitage) Pierstorff, age 65, passed away suddenly on January 5, 2014 of a heart attack.

Carol was born July 21, 1948 in Providence, RI to John B. and Franya (Grzych) Armitage. Carol graduated from Cranston East High School in 1966. She married her college sweetheart, Bruce W. Pierstorff, in Providence, RI in 1969, one year prior to graduating from Brown University with a degree in Music. Since her early teenage years, Carol worked as a full or part-time church organist and was involved with other musical and theatrical groups since her college days.

Following receipt of her MBA (UNH, 1979), Carol worked as a consultant prior to taking a position with IHRDC where she became Vice President, Marketing and Sales. It was at IHRDC where she developed her love for international business and travel. Following the death of her parents, she worked in the international training field with her own company, Terra Training and Consulting Associates. In 1992, she took a position with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and moved from Dover, NH to the Washington, DC area. She directed various USAID programs throughout the world and ultimately took an assignment with USAID in Moscow, Russia in 2000. While in Moscow, she directed two major projects (the ROLL and the Forest projects) as well as numerous small projects that dealt with rural development, energy efficiency and environmental assessment until her retirement in July 2005.

Upon retirement, Carol returned to her musical roots and served as a substitute organist for numerous churches in the Northern Virginia and DC area. She also sang with the Piedmont Singers as well as the New Dominion Chorale.

In addition to her husband of 45 years, survivors include her son Erik D. Pierstorff (Trish Kaiser) of Sierra Madre, CA and daughter Leah C. Marshall of North Yarmouth, ME, brother John Armitage, and four grandchildren (Eden, Simone, Gabriel and Desmond) whom she adored and who also display Carol's love of music.

Carol made deep and lasting friendships wherever she went, and the impact of her death has been felt throughout the country and as far away as Australia and Russia. She had an uncanny ability to recognize hidden gifts and encouraged many people to achieve things they might never have attempted without her influence and support. Carol had a deep love and appreciation for music and for all of the cultural opportunities that the greater DC area had to offer. She was a world traveler, a lifelong learner, and brought great joy to others through her music and knowledge.

Carol was a member of the Rotary Club of Falls Church, VA and served as the International Service Director and Sergeant-at-Arms, and she generously gave of her time and financial resources to many organizations and people in need. She will be missed by many.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 9 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg, VA. A second celebration of Carol's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 15 at the Garrison Players Arts Center in Rollinsford, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ShelterBox, (www.shelterboxusa.org), the Global Fund for Women (www.globalfundforwomen.org/index.php) or the ASPCA (www.aspca.org/).

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This notice was posted to the USAID Alumni Association blog on January 17, 2014:

Carol Nancy (Armitage) Pierstorff, age 65, passed away suddenly on January 5, 2014 of a heart attack. Carol was born July 21, 1948 in Providence, RI to John B. and Franya (Grzych) Armitage.

Carol graduated from Cranston East High School in 1966. She married her college sweetheart, Bruce W. Pierstorff, in Providence, RI in 1969, one year prior to graduating from Brown University with a degree in Music. Since her early teenage years, Carol worked as a full or part-time church organist and was involved with other musical and theatrical groups since her college days.

Following receipt of her MBA (UNH, 1979), Carol worked as a consultant prior to taking a position with IHRDC where she became Vice President, Marketing and Sales. It was at IHRDC where she developed her love for international business and travel. Following the death of her parents, she worked in the international training field with her own company, Terra Training and Consulting Associates. In 1992, she took a position with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and moved from Dover, NH to the Washington, DC area. She directed various USAID programs throughout the world and ultimately took an assignment with USAID in Moscow, Russia in 2000. While in Moscow, she directed two major projects (the ROLL and the Forest projects) as well as numerous small projects that dealt with rural development, energy efficiency and environmental assessment until her retirement in July 2005.

Upon retirement, Carol returned to her musical roots and served as a substitute organist for numerous churches in the Northern Virginia and DC area. She also sang with the Piedmont Singers as well as the New Dominion Chorale.

In addition to her husband of 45 years, survivors include her son Erik D. Pierstorff (Trish Kaiser) of Sierra Madre, CA and daughter Leah C. Marshall of North Yarmouth, ME, brother John Armitage, and four grandchildren (Eden, Simone, Gabriel and Desmond) whom she adored and who also display Carol's love of music.

Carol made deep and lasting friendships wherever she went, and the impact of her death has been felt throughout the country and as far away as Australia and Russia. She had an uncanny ability to recognize hidden gifts and encouraged many people to achieve things they might never have attempted without her influence and support.

Carol had a deep love and appreciation for music and for all of the cultural opportunities that the greater DC area had to offer. She was a world traveler, a lifelong learner, and brought great joy to others through her music and knowledge. Carol was a member of the Rotary Club of Falls Church, VA and served as the International Service Director and Sergeant-at-Arms, and she generously gave of her time and financial resources to many organizations and people in need. She will be missed by many.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, February 9 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg, VA. A second celebration of Carol's life will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 15 at the Garrison Players Arts Center in Rollinsford, NH.

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Ad-Hoc members Louise Lee, Norma Meyer, Hellen Gelband, and Karen Lee sang at the memorial service in Middleburg, VA.
Former Ad-Hoc member Allyn Beauchamp was also there.

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