Mass. prisoner’s family relieved by his release from Iraqi captivity

The friends and colleagues of a Hingham man who is on his way home after being detained for 40 days in Iran said Sunday they’re relieved that he’s been released.

Officials haven’t said why Matthew Trevithick, 30, was taken into custody.

He was released Saturday independently of a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran that saw four American prisoners discharged.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who exudes as much energy, enthusiasm and curiosity,” said Andrew Bacevich, professor emeritus of international relations and history at Boston University, where Trevithick was his student.

Bacevich said he was “immensely gratified” to learn of Trevithick’s release.

“I only hope that his ordeal won’t compromise any of the qualities that make him the special person that he is,” Bacevich said.

Trevithick’s website said he coached rowing teams in Iraq and Afghanistan while working abroad. That work included time at the American University of Afghanistan and the American University of Iraq.

It was in Iraq that Trevithick met rowing coach Bruce Smith, who was conducting a rowing camp for the Iraqi national rowing team. The two hit it off and collaborated on a project to set up a rowing camp at Lake Dukan in northern Iraq.

“He’s an optimistic and tremendous fellow, and we're so happy about the work everyone did to secure his release,” said Smith, executive director of Community Rowing Inc., in Brighton.

Robin Wright, a joint fel- low at the Wilson Center and the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, described Trevithick as a “winsome, sweet and intelligent man.”

Trevithick was Wright's research assistant at the Wilson Center in 2009, and the two have remained friends, she said.

“Whenever he came back to the U.S. we saw each other and he came by to schmooze,” Wright said.

Trevithick was wrapping up a four-month language program at an institute associated with Tehran University when he was detained, his family said in a statement.

His family did not respond to messages Sunday about their son’s whereabouts or plans for their reunion.

Trevithick’s release coincided with the announcement that Iran has satisfied its obligations under a nuclear deal with world powers.