Born in 1931 in Rostov-on-Don, Razvin demonstrated a keen interest in languages as well as world affairs. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute for Foreign Relations with a diploma in Economics and, later, the prestigious Diplomatic Academy in Moscow.

In 1952 he married Valentina P. Razvina, a translator, guide and English scholar at the Moscow Institute. They have one son, Peter, born in 1953, who is a scientist specializing in international economic relations.

In 1970 he accepted a post at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in Moscow. From 1974 to 1980 he served in the Protocol Department of the Ministry and, from 1980 to 1990, was Chief of Translation and Interpretation at the Ministry, responsible for sending Russian linguists to all parts of the world.

Throughout his career, Ambassador Razvin published many articles dealing with world economics and international relations. He was also noted in Russia and throughout the U.S. as a speaker who was informed, analytical, insightful and highly entertaining.

Ambassador Razvin served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, at the USSR Embassy in Myanmar (Burma), for twelve years. In 1990 he was appointed Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. by General Secretary of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev. In 1994 he was elevated to the rank of ambassador by President Boris Yeltsin.

While he served in this capacity at the U.N. in New York City, the founders of the Razvin Trust met, collaborated with and grew to love Ambassador Razvin. His desire to “make connections” between Russians and Americans most accurately epitomizes this unique and very special man. He was fond of saying, “The future is in the young” and his support of education and exchange programs for students and their teachers was unrelenting.

Following tumultuous changes in his country, including the fall of Communism and the demise of the USSR, Ambassador Alexandr A. Razvin returned from the U.S. to his position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow. There he once again addressed the task of mentoring his young colleagues in the fine arts of diplomacy, mutual respect, kindness and empathy. He left this world too soon on March 10, 1998 at the age of 66.