Richard Newton Gardner (July 9, 1927 – February 16, 2019) was an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Spain and the United States Ambassador to Italy.

[3] Gardner was born in New York City, New York, the son of Ethel (née Alias) and Samuel Gardner (former family name was Goldberg[1]).

[2] He served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II.

from Yale Law School, and was a Rhodes Scholar, receiving a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from Oxford University.

[7] Gardner died in New York City on February 16, 2019, at the age of 91.