On October 12, 2006, Hermann Frederick Eilts died at his home in Wellesley Massachusetts after an extended illness. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Brew Eilts, two sons, Conrad Marshall Eilts and Frederick Lowell Eilts, and four grandchildren. Ambassador Eilts was born in Weissenfels / Salle, Germany on March 23, 1922 and immigrated o the United States in 1926 with his parents Friedrich Alex Eilts and Meta Dorothea Eilts. He obtained American citizenship in 1930 and grew up in Scranton Pennsylvania. In 1942 he received a B.A. from Ursinus College and in 1947 received an M.A. (with distinction) from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Ambassador Eilts provided over fifty years of service to the nation and to the cause of education. Between 1942 and 1946, Hermann Eilts served in the United States Army, ultimately achieving the rank of First Lieutenant, Military Intelligence. During the Second World War, his service in the North African and European Theaters of Operation earned him a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and several European/No. African Campaign Stars. As a Foreign Service officer from 1947 to 1979, Ambassador Eilts served in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, England, Libya and Egypt. He is acknowledged as having played a critical role in working to resolve many of the challenging issues of those years. His service also included postings at the State Department in Washington D.C. and at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania where he served as Deputy Commandant and Diplomatic Advisor. His Foreign Service career was capped by service as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In 1971, Ambassador Eilts was named Career Minister by the Department of State. Upon his retirement from the Foreign Service, Ambassador Eilts became a Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Boston University where he established an served as Director for its Center for International Relations and subsequently created and served as Chairman of the Department of International Relations. Ambassador Eilts received many honors throughout his career and was a prolific writer and lecturer on Middle Eastern issues. After his retirement from Boston University in 1992, he continued to serve on the Board of trustees for the American University in Cairo. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd located at 2042 Beacon Street in Newton Massachusetts 02468. Arrangements by the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Avenue Needham.