Richard Matheron's Obituary
Retired US Ambassador Richard Matheron, 97, of Escondido died peacefully on July 26, 2024. He began his career in Paris on the staff of the Marshall Plan in 1949 after graduating from the University of California Berkeley with a major in Economics. After six years in Vietnam at various US economic assistance positions, he became a Foreign Service Officer. His first post was Rome. Beginning in 1961 after graduate studies in African Affairs at UCLA, Richard served at eight different US diplomatic and consular posts in seven African nations including Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Ethiopia and finally as ambassador to the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) from 1979 to 1982. Following one year as Ambassador-in-Residence at Tuskegee University, he completed his Foreign Service career as a Senior Inspector at the US Department of State. That assignment permitted him to travel widely in Latin America and the Middle East as well as throughout Europe and Africa. While Richard had many accomplishments throughout his life, he was most proud of was being presented the US Foreign Service Distinguished Service Award for his leadership as Principal Officer at US Consulate, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo during the Simba Revolution of 1964-65.
In 1986 Richard retired from the Foreign Service and moved to San Diego County in his home state of California. He continued to nurture his interest in international affairs by being a board member of the San Diego World Affairs Council and the Citizens Diplomacy Council. Beginning in 1997, he served on six separate missions as a volunteer Elections Supervisor in Bosnia and Kosovo for the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In addition, he served twice on the San Diego County Grand Jury, 1994-95 and again in 2002.
Ambassador Matheron was predeceased by his wife Katherine. He leaves two daughters, Marguerite-Sylvie Matheron and Jeanne-Alexandra Matheron, six grand-daughters, 14 great-grandchildren, a step-son Ron Ross and two step-grandchildren. At his request there will not be a formal ceremony and his body will be interred in the DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired) Memorial Section of Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers you are encouraged to contribute to a charity of your choice.
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