Mr. Abdul-Massih was the chief librarian of the American Embassy. He oversaw the library’s large collection of American books, current periodicals and microfiche archives; it was he who welcomed academics, students, and Lebanese government officials who came to do research there. An American foreign service officer who knew Mr. Abdul-Massih described him as a “civil and generous man”; Mr. Abdul-Massih regularly invited his American colleagues to his home.

Mr. Riyad Abdul-Massih was one of 63 victims of the bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which took place on April 18, 1983. At approximately 1:05 PM, a truck loaded with nearly 2,000 pounds of explosives careened through the driveway of the American embassy and crashed into the building. A massive explosion ripped through all seven levels of the embassy, sending debris flying hundreds of feet into the air and causing the burning building to collapse on itself. In addition to those who lost their lives, at least 120 people were injured. At the time, it was the deadliest attack on an American diplomatic mission since World War II. Mr. Abdul-Massih was survived by his wife and two children. He was 53 years old at the time of his death. His current burial place is unknown.

Source of information: https://www.iranrights.org/memorial/story/33090/riyad-abdul-massih