Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Passes Away at 71, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Public Service and Dedication to Helping Those in Need

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has passed away at the age of 71. Richardson was known for his commitment to public service, both during his time in government and in his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.

The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which he founded, said in a statement Saturday that he died in his sleep at his home in Chatham, Massachusetts. Mickey Bergman, Vice President of the Richardson Center, commented in a statement, “Governor Richardson passed away peacefully in his sleep last night. He lived his entire life in the service of others – including both his time in government and his subsequent career helping to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The world has lost a champion for those held unjustly abroad and I have lost a mentor and a dear friend.”

Richardson was a four-term governor of New Mexico and a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He also served as the U.S. energy secretary and as a congressman from New Mexico. After leaving office, he founded the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which works to free people held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.

The Richardson Center for Global Engagement said in a statement that Richardson “was a tireless advocate for peace and justice. There was no person that Governor Richardson would not speak with if it held the promise of returning a person to freedom.”

Richardson’s commitment to public service and his dedication to helping those in need will be remembered by many. His legacy will live on through the work of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement and the lives of those he helped to free.