Bill Richardson, a former Democratic governor of New Mexico and American ambassador to the UN, died peacefully in Chatham, Massachusetts on Saturday. He was 75.

His death was verified by the former governor’s nonprofit, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed as of now.

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Mickey Bergman, vice president of the Richardson Center, said in a statement, “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.”

Bill Richardson was married to Barbara Flavin in 1972. They had one child together.

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Who is Barbara Richardson?

Bill Richardson, the 9th Secretary of Energy of the United States, is married to Barbara Richardson, a former First Lady of New Mexico. She is a passionate supporter of domestic violence prevention as well as the health and literacy of children.

She began working in outpatient services at Massachusetts General Hospital after earning his college degree. After she met Bill Richardson, they got married.

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She established the New Mexico Immunizations Coalition in 2003 while serving as the state’s first lady. In addition to a color-coded calendar with baby images showing the right ages for vaccines, the coalition also developed a registry that healthcare professionals may use to keep track of children’s immunizations.

Additionally, Richardson serves as the Read Across America program’s chairwoman for New Mexico. She is also involved in the fight against domestic violence and was instrumental in establishing a refuge for battered spouses in a region of the state where none previously existed. She also organizes a yearly bowling event to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.