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PAPICH -- Sam J. Papich, 90, long-time resident of Albuquerque and a retired FBI agent, died peacefully at home Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004. He is survived by his wife Margery Wilding Papich, daughter Louise Papich of Albuquerque and son William Papich and wife JoAnn of Farmington. Sam's FBI career spanned 29 years, beginning in FBI field offices, followed by his service as an undercover agent in South America during World War II as Japanese and German operatives roamed South America during the war, all prior to creation of the Central Intelligence Agency. After the war he served as the legal attache with Brazilian authorities as he supervised undercover agents and personnel attached to the U.S. Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Back in the United States, Sam's career was highlighted by 20 years of service as the FBI liaison with all divisions of the CIA. He had no counterpart in the CIA. In recent years he would recall that coordinating operations between a law enforcement agency and an agency responsible for foreign counterintelligence was as controversial during those years as it is today. During the Kennedy Administration of the early 1960s, he served on presidential commissions surveying U.S. intelligence operations in Latin America, which included an extended assessment of CIA operations. Upon retiring from the FBI in 1970, Sam served on the staff of the President's Foreign Advisory Board. His work for the board included visits to U.S. embassies throughout the world and consultation with then United Nations Ambassador George H. Bush, 41st president of the United States and father of President George W. Bush. Sam later served as a consultant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff working on a worldwide assessment of Soviet intelligence deception. In 1973 Sam came to New Mexico to serve five years as the first director of the Governor's Organized Crime Prevention Commission. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned in Albuquerque. A private family service will be held later in Butte, Montana at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church. Memorial contributions can be made to, Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, Former Agents of the FBI Foundation, P.O. Box 1027, MCA Bldg., 715 Broadway, Quantico, Va. 22134, or to a charity of your choice.
        Published on: Fri December 24, 2004