John Kent Scales died peacefully at home on April 14, after a valiant, two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

John was born in Swarthmore, Pa. to Constance (Kent) and Richard D. Scales on Oct. 19, 1937. His early life was dramatically shaped as a young boy by the untimely death of his father and grandmother in a car accident.

After graduating from Williams College and Cornell Law School and being admitted to the Washington D.C. and Massachusetts Bars, he began his career as an associate in Sullivan & Worcester Esqs. corporate practice in Boston. 

He then moved to Washington D.C. to work as counsel to Republican members of the U.S. Senate Labor Subcommittees on employment, poverty, children and youth. In that role, he worked closely with Sen. Jacob Javits. John was instrumental in gaining enactment of laws that provided comprehensive employment, training, early childhood education, volunteer and anti-poverty programs. He was particularly proud to be involved in President Lyndon Johnson’s National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders—known as the Kerner Commission. 

After his work for the U.S. Congress, John served for seven years as general counsel for the Peace Corps, where he managed legal matters for its operations in the U.S. and 86 countries. He managed all litigation and complex issues related to legal, compliance, diplomatic, operational, congressional and media activities. At times he served as acting director of the Peace Corps.

Subsequently, he worked for seven years at USAID, initially as legal advisor to the regional bureaus for Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Eurasia and later in Central Asia. A great joy of his life was working as regional legal advisor and director of democratic transition for Central Asia, based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In that role, he supervised democratic and level development in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. His final role with the agency was as attorney in its office of general counsel in Washington D.C.

John will always be remembered as a storyteller and lover of a good joke. He never outgrew his enjoyment of magic tricks and practical jokes. He was fond of his many summer trips to his home on Martha’s Vineyard where he enjoyed sailing and swimming, along with skiing in Aspen in the winter. He was always a warm and lively attendee at social events whether around his home in Alexandria or with family and friends in New England. He grew up with a love of musical theatre and continued to enjoy it and other local cultural events. He was an active member of the Quaker meeting in Washington, D.C. where a service will take place at a later date.

John was pre-deceased by his wife Mada McGill, who also served in senior positions in the Peace Corps. He is survived by his two sisters: Constance Jean (Scales) Lind and Carol Ann (Scales) Teel. He was fond of his nephews and nieces who always looked forward to reconnecting at holiday events.

Donations in his name can be made to the charity of your choice.