Richard Holbrooke - RIP

Mr. Holbrooke, 69, died today, three days after 21 hours of surgery to repair a tear in his aorta - the same condition that killed John Ritter.

Mr. Holbrooke brokered the Dayton Peace Accord, that ended the war in Bosnia.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...T2010121305455

I didn't know a lot about him, although I do certainly recognize his name.
From what I read, he had served under 4 Presidents, and served this country
very well.

So what killed him was a genetic thing and not an accident or injury?