Michael Charles Deppler

**Michael Charles Deppler, 82, of Washington, D.C., passed away on March 23, 2026 from complications from ongoing illnesses.**

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Michael’s early life was shaped by an international upbringing, attending schools in France and Switzerland before his undergraduate studies at Brown University. He later earned his Ph.D. in economics from Georgetown University, setting the foundation for a distinguished career in international public service.

Michael was among the earliest volunteers in the Peace Corps, answering President John F. Kennedy’s call to service. He spent two years in Niger, where he worked closely with local farming communities, introducing teams of oxen to improve agricultural practices. It was there that he met his first wife, fellow Peace Corps volunteer Jane Deppler (née Dodez), with whom he shared a life until her passing in 1990.

He devoted nearly his entire professional life to the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. Beginning as a junior economist contributing to the World Economic Outlook, Michael rose through the ranks to become Director of the European Department, retiring in 2008. In the latter part of his career, he played a pivotal role in negotiating IMF programs following the collapse of the Soviet Union with nations including Poland, Bulgaria, and Russia. His work placed him at the center of historic economic transitions, including meetings with senior heads of state.

In 1999, Michael married Linda Heiserman. They shared many happy years of travel, companionship, and a sweet pup named Arrow, until Linda’s passing.

Michael was a deeply thoughtful and intellectually curious man. He had a lifelong passion for reading — particularly heady fiction, art history, and biography — and was an active and opinionated participant in book discussion groups. He also found joy in sailing, jazz, teaching his grandkids sudoku, finding the perfect farmers market peach, and relaxing in the sun on family trips to Florida’s beaches. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, he took particular delight in topics as specific as the dew point, and he approached life with a relentless work ethic and can-do belief that anything could be fixed with enough careful tinkering. He is remembered by his loved ones for tenacity in every area, not limited to the kitchen, where he was known to prepare and serve a bracing salad with every meal, and even keep his cool serving Thanksgiving dinner single-handed, literally, after a mandolin incident.

In later years, following a diagnosis of leukemia, Michael chose to participate in an experimental treatment trial, contributing to research that ultimately led to a successful new therapy — an act that reflected his enduring commitment to progress and the greater good.

Michael is survived by his sister, Susan Deppler Traywick and brother-in-law, Paul Traywick; his children, Paul Deppler and Michele Deppler Moore; his son-in-law, Brian Moore; and his beloved grandchildren, Katie Moore and Sean Moore, with whom he shared a playful sense of humor and spirited banter.

He will be remembered as a serious and cerebral man, fiercely independent, endlessly curious, and quietly devoted to his family.

In accordance with his wishes, no memorial service will be held.