Martin E. Abel

Abel, Martin E. age 81, of Alexandria, Virginia, died peacefully at home on January 3rd from complications of Parkinson's. Born December 3, 1934 in Sullivan County, New York to immigrant parents, Martin grew up on a dairy farm, spoke only Yiddish until elementary school, attended a two-room school house and was surrounded by extended family who also settled in the area. He received a BS from Cornell University in 1956 and received his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of MN in 1961. While still in graduate school, Abel served on a U.S. Department of Agriculture task force that developed the framework for the national Food Stamp Program, now known as SNAP. From 1961 to 1968, he served the Kennedy and Johnson administrations at USDA which culminated in his appointment as Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs. During that time, he played an instrumental role in developing policies to end severe famine in India through the Green Revolution and in the passage of the Food for Peace Act of 1966. After leaving federal service, Abel spent two years in New Delhi, India as part of the Ford Foundation, continuing his work to move India toward food self-sufficiency. He dedicated the remainder of his career as faculty at the University of Minnesota and as a private consultant before his retirement in 1998. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane Beirstein Abel; children, Rosanne Feild and partner Steven Mintz, Amy Abel and husband Aaron Temin, and Andrea Abel and husband John C. Robinson; and grandchildren, Liya Temin, Keenan Temin, Anna Robinson and Sydney Robinson. He is also survived by his brother, William Abel; and many loving nieces, nephews & cousins. A memorial service will be held at 11am, Sunday, February 14 at Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area or Mazon.

Published on January 17, 2016