Honored CIA official and NPC member Joe L. Zaring dies

Honored CIA official and NPC member Joe L. Zaring dies

Joe L. Zaring, 91, a recipient of one of the intelligence community's highest honors and a veteran National Press Club member, died Sept. 17 at Washington's Sibley Hospital.

Zaring, 91, lived in Washington, D.C. and had been an NPC member for 13 years.

He joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1951 and spent 30 years there, working in the Western European division of the agency's Directorate of Intelligence. He served on the CIA's senior review panel and was a past president of the National Intelligence Council.

He was awarded the National Intelligence Medal of Freedom, which recognizes an individual's a single exceptional contribution to both the intelligence community and the United States.

A native of American Falls, Idaho, Zaring received his undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho in 1942 and his master's degree in public administration from Harvard University in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II.

After his retirement in 1981, Zaring and his wife spent a large part of their time restoring an historic 200-acre farm they owned in Connecticut. They later donated large tracts of that land to Eastern Connecticut University.

In addition to his NPC membership, Zaring was a member of the Harvard Club and an associate member of the Woman's National Democratic Club.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Church Zaring.