Ambassador Holbrooke epitomized great diplomacy: loving his country and its values, and using every tool at his disposal to solve problems and improve lives. "Diplomacy is like jazz," he liked to say, "improvisation on a theme." Over the course of his career, his diplomatic efforts have touched nearly every country in the world. As Secretary Clinton noted shortly after his passing: “from his early days in Vietnam to his historic role bringing peace to the Balkans to his last mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Holbrooke helped shape our history, manage our perilous present, and secure our future.”
All of us that he touched mourn this loss. But we are also mindful that his critical work - making the world a safer, more peaceful place – must continue, as he would have wanted most of all. Ambassador Holbrooke was a man who stared down adversity, and chaos, and never faltered. The important mission that guides our work remains. We will carry forward his legacy, and we will not falter either.
For those who would like to submit a personal message of condolence, please use the following email address: HolbrookeCondolences@state.gov
A private memorial service to honor Ambassador Holbrooke’s life and work was held on Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Kennedy Center. View Video»
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
David Miliband: Richard Holbrooke's true memorial would be a lasting peace in Afghanistan
Richard Cohen: Holbrooke – An Extraordinary Man
Rajiv Chadrasekaran: Richard Holbrooke – Veteran U.S. Diplomat Brokered Dayton Peace Accords
Foreign Policy: A look at the foreign-policy titan from the people who knew him best
Strobe Talbott: Remembering Richard Holbrooke
In lieu of flowers, people are invited to make donations to the following organizations in Ambassador Holbrooke’s name:
American Museum of Natural History
Citizens Committee for New York City
Brown University
Gift Cashier
Box 1877
Providence, RI 02912, USA
(Donor should note in the memo portion of their check: In memory of Richard C. Holbrooke; donations will be allocated to the Richard Holbrooke Fund for International Affairs at the Watson Institute.)
To End A War, Published by Random House, Inc., 1998
