Richard David Vine, 82

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - On Wednesday, May 14, 2008, Richard David Vine died in Chestertown following a short illness. He was a resident of Heron Point. He was 82.

Mr. Vine was born on Dec. 10, 1925, in New York. His parents were George Henry Vine and Mary J. (Dooley) Vine.

A retired foreign service officer, Mr. Vine served as President Jimmy Carter's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Switzerland from 1979 to 1981.

Prior to his nomination as ambassador, Mr. Vine's tours of duty abroad included stints in Germany, Israel, France, Belgium, and Switzerland, where he held the post of deputy head of mission from 1969 through the early 1970s.

After his return to Washington from Switzerland in 1981, Ambassador Vine became director of the State Department's Bureau of Refugee Programs, but shortly afterwards was nominated as director general of the Paris-based Atlantic Institute for International Affairs.

In 1984, the empty premises of the Institute were bombed and demolished one night by the left-wing guerrilla group Action Directe.

Informed, however, by French police that he personally was also on the terrorist group's hit list, Mr. Vine decided to retire and returned to the United States to live in the Chestertown area.

Mr. Vine, who received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his graduate degree from Yale, was the author of many articles and editor of several books on foreign affairs. A world traveler, he was a talented linguist who spoke fluent French and German.

He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

His hobbies included gardening, bridge and bird-watching.

During his retirement, he farmed, bred exotic birds and ran a bird clinic on his property. He sat on several boards, and was active in Chestertown's Washington College Lifelong Learning and Mentoring programs.

Mr. Vine was married to Dawn Decies (Vessa) Vine, who survives him. The couple had two children, Gail Mangold-Vine of Geneva, Switzerland, and Michael David Vine of Washington.

To celebrate Mr. Vine's life, a Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Chestertown.

Burial will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kensington (Silver Spring).

Instead of sending flowers, donations may be made in Richard Vine's name to The Heron Point Moore and Tobey Scholarship Fund. Make checks out to Heron Point, and mail to Heron Point, 501 E. Campus Ave., Chestertown, MD 21620.

Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, Chestertown.

Letters of condolence may be sent to www.fhnfuneralhome.com.