MY Ixotlier. James J

Novak. 57. an independent writer, a champion of South Asia, and a man of adventure, died September 30 at the New York university Medical Center after a fierce six-week struggle against multiple cancers.

Born April 19. 1939, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Jim authored the critically acclaimed Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water, a lyrical, yet keenly analytical portrait of a people and a culture he loved. It has been praised as the best volume on Bangladesh ever published by a foreigner

Jim spent much of the last thirty years in South Asia, much of it in Bangladesh, where from 1982-1985 he directed the Asia Foundation and where during September 1994-May 1995 he was a Senior US Ful bright Research Fellow

As a founder of the Board ol The Asia Mail. Jim was a columnist of that paper, as well as for The Eastern Financial Times and Worldview, the Journal of the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. He published many articles in other journals including The Washington Post. The At lanttc Monthly. The Mainichi Daily News of Tokyo. The New York Times, and The Times of India. Most appeared under the pen name Jeremiad Novak.

As an independent writer and international consultant, my brother cultivated an intellectual life and a life of adven ture in the nineteenth-century British style. Indeed, among his papers is a brace of short stories on daily life in Asia, conceived as the observations of an American Somerset Maugham.

In 1995. Jim accepted a dan gerous assignment as consultant to the Koh i-Noor Foundation for Afghanistan, which required extended travel In the regions controlled by feuding Awhan guerrilla armies. One of Afghanistan s provincial gov emors appointed him an non- • orary colonel" In the Afghan resistance army, guaranteeing his safe passage. Merrie Caw, Managing Editor of the British journal The Salisbury Review. recently published his reflections on Afghanistan and journeyed to his wake in State Col lege

From his earliest days, my brother seemed destined for success. As valedictorian of his senior class at Johnstown Catholic High School, he was chosen Most Outstanding Boy by the faculty, led the debating team to a national championship and as right tackle on the loot ball team recovered a fumble for the only touchdown In an upset victory over an Important school rival.

Jim received a BA from Boston College in 1961 where he worked part time in a home for disturbed boys of all races. There he learned a down-to-earth manner that often served him In good stead. Once on a Boston street two young toughs

held him up at gun point. Raising his hands, he asked. "Who won the fight?" They replied ex cltedly. "Sugar Ray. "What round? How did it happen?" After they explained, he asked how much they wanted. Shrugging. one said, "Five dollars." ’Here." Jim said, and kept his wallet.

Jim graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a master's degree in economics In 1963. Joining ROTC in college, he had scorned the more glamorous forces and chose the Army, requesting Armoured; he wanted to command tanks. Thus, after Notre Dame, the Army sent him to Bamberg. Germany, with the 3rd Armored Division. Because of sudden transfers above his rank, he was thrown into the role of acting Company Commander even though he was only a Sec ond Lieutenant. Drawing on his street smarts Jim drove his newly formed unit relentlessly, and with humor, and to the surprise of all. they won the NATO gunnery competition beating the Germans, the British and all the others. He left the Army as a Captain and (beating out a West Point graduate, which pleased him greatly) Company Commander of Company A. 3rd Battalion. 35th Armour. In 1963. President Kennedy sent him in the first detachment of 500 support troops to Vietnam, where he was on assignment for several months.

In 1965. Jim joined the Pfizer Corporation as a product manager to develop marketing Samines for new products as Terramycin; in 1971 he was made Director of Pharmaceutical Development for Asia, supervising sales in 17 nations and in 11 factories. In 1974. he became Vice President for A H Robins Co in Manila, and in two years doubled the Philippines operation. Returning to the US. he moved to State College. Pennsylvania, began building a magnificent personal library, and continued writing and consulting. He travelled-often to Asia, and was active in projects to help various governments such as Laos. Pakistan. Afghanistan, and above all. Bangladesh.

Jims stint with the Asia Foundation during the early 1980s. where he supervised a staff of 70. put him in direct contact with all levels of Bangladesh Society. He was. as one sympathetic observer said, "always engaged in the latest buzz of Dhaka politics." Leading figures in national politics would frequently be seen in his veranda, talking politics and exchanging gossip. Jim lectured regularly on Bangladesh for the Department of State's Foreign Service institute, white US diplomats prepared for assignments in South AMa.fri light of all these activities, _my brother was widely regarded as SMth Asia s champion before the rest of the world.

My brother left behind voluminous papers, copies of a vast correspondence with persons worldwide, notebooks, and published and unpublished writings He was rich In long-lasting friendships on all continents.

Jim is survived by his wife Naomi Novak; three grown children: Joshua. Joseph, and Pei Wen; and four granddaughters. Jim was preceded in death by our brother. Father Richard J Novak. CSC. who until his untimely death at 27. taught at "Notre Dame College In Dhaka, where he is buried.

Jim's immediate family has established the James J Novak Scholarship Fund for needy students at the Notre Dame College in Dhaka, and donations may be sent to 100 Hartswick Ave.. State College. Pennsylvania' 16801. USA.