Joseph J. Jova

Joseph J. Jova was an American diplomat. He served as United States Ambassador to Honduras from 1965 to 1969, United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States from 1969 to 1973, and United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1973 to 1977.

Early life

Joseph Jova was born in Newburgh, New York. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1938.

Career

After graduation, he worked for the United Fruit Company in Guatemala. During the Second World War, he served as a lieutenant in Europe for the United States Navy.

In 1947, he joined the United States Department of State and served as Vice Consul to Basra, Iraq. He served as Ambassador to Honduras from 1965 to 1969, Representative to the Organization of American States from 1969 to 1973, and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico from 1973 to 1977.

He served as President of the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. for twelve years after his retirement as ambassador.

Personal life

He met and married his British-born wife, the former Pamela Johnson, in Basra, Iraq, in 1949. They had two sons and one daughter. He died of thoracic aortic aneurysm.