Richard Graham Long, a devoted public servant, scholar, and lifelong learner, passed away peacefully at his home on March 8, 2026, at the age of 98. Born on December 30, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, Richard lived a life marked by curiosity, integrity, and a deep commitment to understanding the world.

Richard graduated from Princeton University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, later earning a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1954. His early career included service as a crypto analyst for the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952, with assignments both stateside and in Tokyo, Japan. He went on to serve as an International Relations Officer in Washington, D.C., from 1954 to 1955.

In 1955, Richard married Anne Priscilla Alling, beginning a lifelong partnership that supported his wide-ranging career in diplomacy and public service. The following year, he joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer, embarking on a distinguished career that spanned nearly 25 years. His assignments took him across the globe, including postings in Pakistan, Algeria, and Paris, France. From 1969 to 1970, he was assigned to the Army War College in Montgomery, Alabama, further deepening his expertise in international affairs.

After retiring from the State Department in 1980, Richard continued his government service at the Pentagon as a Contemporary Document Reviewer. Never one to stop learning, he returned to academia and completed his PhD at George Washington University in 1995. He went on to teach foreign policy and government relations at several colleges in Maryland and Virgina before retiring to Myersville, Maryland.

Richard was an avid naturalist, hiker, and golfer, enjoying the outdoors well into his 90s. His intellectual curiosity never waned; he remained active in the Lamplighter Society and a local book club, and he followed global affairs and foreign policy with keen interest throughout his life.

He is survived by his four children: Conrad B. Long of Fraser, Colorado; Kathryn G. Larson of Floyd, Virginia; Barbara M. Long-Bonadio of Baltimore, Maryland; Nathan A. Long of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and his granddaughter, Harvee M. Bonadio. He is also survived by two nephews, Craig Long and Steve Long.

Richard will be remembered as a hardworking, loyal family man of great integrity. His wisdom, warmth, and steady presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to:

Princeton Alumni Association - Class of 1949

Princeton University

Attn: Annual Giving

Box 5357

Princeton, NJ 08543-5357

or

Prostate Cancer Research

American Cancer Society

P.O. Box 6704

Hagerstown, MD 21741