AFoCR mourns the passing of Ambassador William H. Luers, a distinguished American diplomat, cultural leader, and lifelong advocate for democratic values. He died on May 11, 2025, at the age of 95.
As U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia in the 1980s, Ambassador Luers played a pivotal role in supporting Václav Havel and the Czech dissident movement during the final years of Communist rule. His innovative efforts to shield Havel through cultural diplomacy and international visibility helped preserve a future president—and a symbol of peaceful resistance.
Ambassador Luers’ extraordinary career spanned diplomacy, the arts, and global civic leadership. After retiring from the Foreign Service, he served as president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and later led the United Nations Association of the USA and The Iran Project.
Many of us at AFoCR knew Ambassador Luers personally and well. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Wendy Luers, a longtime advisor to AFoCR and founder of the Foundation for a Civil Society, as well as to their family. The Luers’ shared commitment to civil society, transatlantic cooperation, and cultural diplomacy has profoundly shaped U.S.-Czech relations—and continues to inspire our work.
May his memory be a blessing.
