Jerri Bird

Jerri Newhouse Bird, wife of retired foreign service officer Eugene Bird and dedicated searcher for peace in the Middle East, died at her Washington, DC home on Dec 12, 2012. Jerri Bird was born in Portland, OR, and raised in Eugene, OR, where she graduated from the University of Oregon in 1948. In June 2002, Jerri authored a long article in the State Department's Foreign Service Journal entitled "Israel's treatment of Americans." The original title had been "Arab-Americans in Israel. What Special Relationship?" setting out examples of brutal Israeli treatment of Arab Americans. An ardent proponent of peace between Arabs and Israelis, Jerri pulled no punches about her indignation over Israel's detention, interrogation and torture of Americans.