Obituaries - June 21, 1999

Cecilia Danieli; Headed Family Steel Firm

Cecilia Danieli, 56, dubbed Italy’s “Iron Lady” for heading her family’s steel toolmaking company. Joining the firm when she was young, Danieli rose from administration and sales to become chairman and managing director in 1984. Under her direction, the business expanded to include bases in the United States as well as in Buttrio, near Udine, and other Italian cities. It also began selling completely furnished steel plants. Danieli expanded the business to include customers in the former Soviet Union, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries and several nations in Central America. On Thursday in Udine, Italy, of cancer.

Kamal Hussein; Helped Nasser Topple King

Kamal El-Din Hussein, 77, one of the army officers who helped Gamal Abdel Nasser topple Egypt’s monarchy in 1952 and who served as vice president. Hussein joined Nasser in the “Free Officers” movement during the 1948 war with Israel. When the officers overthrew Egypt’s King Farouk four years later, Hussein became a member of the ruling Revolution Council and minister of social affairs. He later was named one of Nasser’s many deputies, and headed the National Guard during the 1956 war against Britain and France after Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal. Hussein fell out with Nasser when he opposed many of the late president’s policies, especially Nasser’s heavy-handed style of government and favoritism, which Hussein blamed for Egypt’s defeat in the 1967 war with Israel. Historian Abdel Adhim Ramadan said Hussein was among the first Free Officers who opposed “Nasser’s dictatorship.” On Saturday in Cairo of liver cancer.

Henri Louis-Philippe; Pretender to French Throne

Henri Robert Ferdinand Marie Louis-Philippe of Orleans, 90, the count of Paris and pretender to the French throne. The count, who had 11 children and leaves more than 40 grandchildren, claimed to be the successor to France’s last king, Louis-Philippe, who was overthrown in the Revolution of 1848. He stripped his eldest son, Henri de France, Count of Clermont, of his position as theoretical heir to the throne in 1984 after the son divorced and then married a divorced woman, but reconfirmed him as heir to the House of France in 1996. Recognized by dapper suits and a mustache that became his trademark, the count cut a dashing figure in his youth. He fought for France in the Foreign Legion despite being banished from his beloved country for the first 42 years of his life. He moved to France only after a law forbidding pretenders to the throne from entering the country was rescinded in 1950. Louis-Philippe was firm friends with Gen. Charles de Gaulle, who supported his bid to reestablish himself as king. Combining fidelity to his ancient heritage with a modern vision of French monarchism, Louis-Philippe originally advocated election as monarch on universal suffrage, like France’s president. But last year he said in an interview that any restoration of the monarchy in France would have to be “above and beyond politics.” On Saturday near Paris of prostate cancer.

Edward C. Pomeroy; Pushed Teaching Standards

Edward Coffin Pomeroy, 82, executive director emeritus of the American Assn. of Colleges for Teacher Education. Pomeroy, a leading figure in the accreditation movement for teacher education, retired and received emeritus status in the early 1980s after about 30 years with AACTE, which represents 750 colleges and universities. He was honored by the association with an annual award given in his name to an educator who has contributed in significant ways to teacher education. Over the years, Pomeroy served as the association’s associate and executive secretary, and he helped to establish the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the International Council on Education for Teaching. He was born in Westfield, Mass., and graduated from American International College in Springfield, Mass. After serving in the Navy Supply Corps during World War II, he received a doctorate in education from Columbia University. He was a trustee of Colorado Women’s College in Denver, an advisory commissioner of the Education Commission of the States, and a member of the National Education Assn. and the University Club of Washington. On Wednesday in Silver Spring, Md., of congestive heart failure.