Olof Rydbeck


Olof Rydbeck was a Swedish diplomat. Rydbeck began his diplomatic career at the Ministry for [Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs] in 1939, serving in Berlin, Ankara, and Washington, D.C., and holding roles such as acting second secretary and first secretary of legation. He later became head of division and chief of the Ministry's press bureau in 1952.
From 1955 to 1970, he served as Director-General of Sveriges Radio. He then represented Sweden at the United Nations as Permanent Representative and on the Security Council, during which he was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to negotiate the future of Western Sahara. Rydbeck subsequently served as Swedish ambassador to London and as Director-General of UNRWA in Vienna. In 1987, he chaired a national commission reviewing arms export practices.
In addition to his official roles, Rydbeck held numerous leadership positions in cultural, academic, and international organizations, including the Swedish Institute, the Swedish-American News Agency, the Swedish Red Cross, the European Broadcasting Union, the International Institute of Communications, Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå, and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

Early life

Rydbeck was born on 15 April 1913 in Djursholm, Sweden, the son of bank manager and Signe Olson. He graduated from Djursholms samskola in 1931, earned a bachelor's degree in 1934 from Uppsala University, and completed a Candidate of Law degree in 1939. During his student years, he undertook study trips to England, Germany, France, and Ankara. He served as first curator of the Stockholms nation in Uppsala from 1937 to 1938 and was chairman of the conservative student association in Uppsala from 1936 to 1937.

Career

Rydbeck began his diplomatic career as an attaché at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1939. The following year he served as a clerk to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in 1940 he was posted as attaché to the Swedish legation in Berlin. He was transferred to Ankara in 1941, returned to the Ministry in 1942, and became acting second secretary in 1943. That same year he also joined the American Affairs Inquiry. In 1945 he served in Washington, D.C., where he became first secretary of legation in 1946. Subsequent postings included Bonn in 1950, and in 1952 he was appointed head of division and chief of the Ministry's press bureau.
From 1955 to 1970 Rydbeck was Director-General of Sveriges Radio. He then served as [Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations|Sweden's Permanent Representative to the United Nations] from 1970 to 1976, and as Sweden's representative on the United Nations Security Council from 1975 to 1976. During this period he was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to negotiate the future of Western Sahara. He was Swedish ambassador in London from 1977 to 1979 and Director-General of UNRWA in Vienna from 1979 to 1985. In 1987 he chaired the national citizens’ commission reviewing certain arms export practices.
Rydbeck also held a wide range of board and leadership positions in cultural, academic, and international organizations. He was a board member of the Swedish Institute and the Swedish-American News Agency from 1953 to 1955, the Swedish Tourist Traffic Association , and the Stockholm Concert Association . He served on the national board of the Swedish Red Cross, the council of the Swedish Institute from 1956, and the National Swedish Psychological Defence Planning Committee , where he was vice chairman from 1962 to 1970. He chaired the FHS Association, was president of the European Broadcasting Union, and chairman of the International Institute of Communications. He also served on the boards of the Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs from 1967. In addition, he was a member of the Sällskapet Idun.

Personal life

In 1940, Rydbeck married Monica Schnell, the daughter of ryttmästare Carl Gustaf Schnell and Hilda. They had two children: Thomas and Cecilia.
In 1990, Olof Rydbeck published his memoirs, I maktens närhet. Diplomat, radiochef, FN-ämbetsman.
Rydbeck is said to have been the model for one of the cats, Bill and Bull, in Gösta Knutsson's Pelle Svanslös stories.
He later lived in Charbonnières-les-Bains, France.

Deaths

Rydbeck died on 23 December 1995, in Stocksund, Sweden. The funeral was held on 12 January 1996 in St. Eugenia's Church in Stockholm. He was interred on 15 April 1996 at the Rydbeck family grave at in his hometown of Djursholm.

Awards and decorations