E. Jan Nadelman, 85, served as U.S. diplomat

E. Jan Nadelman, a foreign service officer, diplomat and son of the world famous sculptor Elie Nadelman, died on Nov. 24, at New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion from pneumonia. He was 85.

Mr. Nadelman was the only child of Viola and Elie Nadelman. During his early years, he and his parents divided their time between a home on the Upper East Side and at the family's Riverdale estate, Alderbrook.

The Nadelmans bought the 19th-century Gothic mansion, off Independence Avenue, in the 1920s. It was originally built for Percy R. Pyne, president of the National City Bank, as part of the second development of summer villas overlooking the Hudson River called The Park-Riverdale.

Mr. Nadelman attended Riverdale Country School and Princeton University, graduating in January 1943 magna cum laude.

In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and earned three battle stars for service in military intelligence in the European Theater of Operations. While assigned to a British sector in March 1945, he participated with British Commandos in the first amphibious crossing of the Rhine River

In 1946, the decorated solider was appointed a foreign service officer. At first, he served as a college professor, training hundreds of newly appointed officers in the Foreign Service Institute. In the late 1950s he was appointed the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the Foreign Service Association.

In 1962, Mr. Nadelman was chosen as the U.S. delegate to the International Quaker Conference for Diplomats at Clarens, Switzerland. He spoke French, Spanish, German, Italian and Polish.

In 1961, during his posting as consul and principal officer in Poznan, the U.S. consulate and residence were attacked by rioters protesting the Bay of Pigs invasion. During the crisis years from 1962 to 1964 in Berlin, he was U.S. member of the Tripartite Political Working Group (with the United Kingdom and France).

Later he was posted to Africa. Upon his return to the Department of State in the late 1960s he was designated alternate country director for nine African countries in the Bureau of African Affairs. In 1969 and 1970 he sat on the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service.

His last official position was as a special assistant, Office of Refugee and Migration Affairs.

After retiring in 1972, Mr. Nadelman returned to Riverdale and managed the art estate of his sculptor father, during a period of increasing fame for the sculptor and his work. An arts lover himself, Mr. Nadelman had his own collection of African art, which he acquired while stationed in Liberia and during his travels in western Africa.

Mr. Nadelman was also a board member of a number of organizations and clubs, including the Riverdale Yacht Club. His hobbies included sailing, fishing, hunting, skating, photography, cross-country skiing and kayaking.

He was also an avid swimmer, often practicing his strokes at the Alderbrook swimming pool, next to his house, which his parents had built.

Mr. Nadelman was married to the late Joyce V. Cavanah (Nadelman), formerly of the Foreign Service, from 1947 until her death in 1993. They had two children, Cynthia J. Nadelman of Manhattan and Philip J. Nadelman, of Riverdale, who survive them.

In 1993, he married Laurelaine Buckingham Reid, who resides at Alderbrook.

Mr. Nadelman was buried on Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings, N.Y. Williams Funeral Home handled the arrangements. The family is planning a private memorial.

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