He brokered the Dayton accord that made the 1995 Bosnia peace plan possible and until his death, was President Barack Obama's special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The president eulogized him as "a true giant of American foreign policy." Mr. Holbrooke served under every Democratic president from John F. Kennedy in 1962 to Barack Obama in 2010. Richard was also once the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Richard fainted and was rushed to the hospital while meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department on Friday, where examination revealed a ruptured artery (aorta); but he did not survive all best effort made to plumb it and died Monday December 13. Icheoku says his old weak heart could no longer take the punishment anymore of a grueling, stressful and pressure-cooker of intensive diplomacy between two defiant countries; and it sputtered to a full final halt. Still wondering why people are expected to retire at age 65? What a life of service Richard Holbrooke lived; and he served till the end and literally died on the job. Mr. Holbrooke was survived by his wife, Kati Marton, and two sons from an earlier marriage, David Holbrooke and Anthony Holbrooke. Icheoku wishes the family well and prays that Richard's soul rests in peace; Adieu DIck!
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