William V. Broe, 97, of Scituate. Former high-level CIA operations chief and Inspector General, died Sept. 28, 2010 in Hingham. After serving as a Special Agent with the FBI from 1942 to 1948, Mr. Broe entered the CIA just months after its creation, working in the Far East Division. In 1951, he was assigned to Manila as Chief of Station. Upon his departure from Manila, the then- President of the Philippines sent a letter of appreciation to the Director of Central Intelligence, Allen Dulles, for Mr. Broes liaison support to the Philippine National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, in which he wrote that Mr. Broes untiring efforts have contributed much towards maintaining harmonious relations between your country and mine. From Manila, Mr. Broe went on to become Deputy Chief of the China Mission, based in Japan. Mr. Broe was then assigned as Chief of the China Branch in Washington, before becoming Deputy Chief of the Far East Division in 1958. This was followed by tours of duty as Chief of Station, Tokyo (1961-1965); Chief of the Western Hemisphere Division (1965-1972); and, finally, as Inspector General of the CIA (1972-1973). As Chief of the Western Hemisphere Division, Mr. Broe assisted in the management of one crisis situation after another in the region: The 1965 Dominican Crisis; political instability inPeru and Chile; successive coups in Bolivia; the growing urban terrorism in many of the countries; and the increasing Soviet presence and activity in Latin America. As Inspector General, he was closely involved with the preparation and review of documents and other material concerning the CIAs alleged involvement in the Watergate affair, and in regard to this issue Mr. Broe continued as a consultant to the Director of Central Intelligence for a year after his retirement in 1973. Mr. Broe was considered a valuable advisor and consultant to top US government policymakers as well as colleagues of foreign governments, and he made singular and lasting contributions to national security. For this he was awarded the CIAs Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Mr. Broe was born on August 24, 1913, in Amesbury, MA. He attended Amesbury High School and Governor Dummer Academy and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1939 with an A.B. degree in Biology and Chemistry. He married Jean Barbara Causer of Weymouth, MA, on November 21, 1942, and together they raised four daughters. Jean Broe passed away in 1988. In retirement, Mr. Broe resided in Scituate, MA, and was able to give his full attention and devotion to what he loved the mosthis family and his garden, especially his roses. He served as both Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Cohasset, MA, served on the churchs Audit Committee and was a long-term member of the Vestry. He was a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, and of the Central Intelligence Retirement Association. He is survived by daughters Bonnie Broe, Susan Parmelee, Kristine Broe, Barbara Burk, five grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.

Visiting hours

Omitted.

Service Information

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a memorial service beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 2, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 16 Highland Ave., Cohasset, MA 02025.