Fred M. Zeder II, 82; Headed Overseas Investment Corporation

Fred M. Zeder II, 82, a former U.S. representative to the Micronesian status negotiations who later headed the Overseas Private Investment Corp., died March 12 in Pebble Beach, Calif. The cause of death was not reported.

A native of South Orange, N.J., Zeder served as a fighter pilot in the Army Air Forces during World War II.

After the war, he founded several successful businesses. From 1956 to 1975, he was chairman and chief executive of Hydrometals Corp., a diversified manufacturing company.

Zeder entered government service in 1971, when he was elected to the City Council in Dallas.

In 1974, President Ford appointed him director of the Office of Territorial Affairs, with oversight of U.S. policy and programs relating to American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Years later, Zeder was named representative to the Micronesian negotiations.

In 1989, then-President Bush appointed Zeder president and chief executive of Overseas Private Investment. In this role, Zeder promoted private investment and supported U.S. national interests in 130 countries.

He drew some criticism in 1990 when it was disclosed that he had set up a private company to do business in the Pacific Islands while he was a U.S. ambassador to the region in 1986.

Zeder said there was no legal requirement that he notify the State Department about his firm, Island Development Foundation, or recuse himself from any government decision.