Obituary of Robert A. Best

Robert A. Best, in Reston, December 23, was born August 23, 1937 in Long Beach, New York of parents George R. Best and Josephine LaSpina. After graduation from Long Beach High School he attended Villanova University, earning a degree in Economics in 1959. He later earned a Master's degree in Economics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. After publishing a book on the role of Foreign Investment on the U.S. Balance of Payments, he worked for 12 years at the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, eventually becoming Chief Economist. He subsequently formed a number of lobbying and consulting firms in Washington, including the American League for Exports and Security Assistance and the Pacific Trade and Investment Company. He also started Private Sector Initiatives a non-profit foundation in support of training programs for street children and other poor people mainly in Latin America. Mr. Best testified on numerous occasions before Congressional Committees in both the House and Senate and Presidential panels on both economic and life-related issues. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed golf, baseball, football and college basketball. He was a member of Congressional Country Club and various professional organizations. In his last years he resided in Reston, Virginia. He requested that any donations in his memory can be made to the Reston Study Center, 1810 Old Reston Ave, Reston, VA 20190. He is survived by his brother John. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Church on Monday, 10:30 a.m., December 29. The wake will be at Reston Study Center on Sunday, December 28, from 3 to 5 p.m.