WATERFORD, Va. — David Andrew Harcharik, 71, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, at his home in Waterford, Va.

Dave was born Oct. 13, 1943, in Streator, to Andrew "Mitch" Harcharik and Regina (Averweg) Harcharik.

He graduated from St. Anthony's Elementary School and, in 1961, from Streator Township High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in forest management from Iowa State University, after which he volunteered with the Peace Corps and was stationed in Lima, Peru, where he taught in the Department of Forest Sciences at Agrarian University and worked with the Peruvian citizens on a variety of projects.

After his return to the States, he studied at Duke University, where he received a master's degree in forest ecology. He then served our country in the U.S. Army.

After returning from Vietnam, he accepted a position with the Food & Agriculture Department of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. While living in Rome, he met and married his wife, Angelica Fernandez, who was visiting Rome from Argentina. They moved to Raleigh, N.C., where he earned a Ph.D. in forest genetics from North Carolina State University in 1984. He then held a number of positions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services in Washington D.C., including as director of international forestry.

Dave and Angelica loved Italy and when the opportunity arose he was happy to return to Rome and the FAO. He rose to the position of Deputy Director General of the Food and Agriculture Department of the United Nations, a position he held for 10 years prior to his retirement in 2007. In retirement they shared their time between homes in Waterford, Va., and Umbria, Italy.

Dave was an easy going, gentle man with a wry sense of humor who was well-loved and highly respected. He will be dearly missed.

His memory will be cherished by the loved ones who survive him, including his wife, Angelica (Fernandez) Harcharik, of Waterford; his mother, Regina (Averweg) Harcharik, and his sisters, Barbara (Clarence) Creamean and Linda (the late Francis) Araujo, all of Streator, and Mary Harcharik, of Reston, Va.; his brother, John Harcharik, of Anacortes, Wash.; numerous nieces and nephews; and an uncle, Arthur Averweg, of Streator.

He was preceded in death by his father, Andrew "Mitch" Harcharik, and a brother-in-law, Francis Araujo.

Family and friends gathered Dec. 4 at Colonial Funeral Home, Leesburg, Va., and at a funeral Mass on Dec. 5 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, also in Leesburg. Cremation rites were accorded and burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C.

Memorial donations may be made to Office of Development, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Harris Building, Suite 4000, 3300 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington DC, 20007.