Richard B. DiFedele ’71

We lost our most affable and respected classmate Rich Jan. 31, 2025.

He died on his beloved boat, Breakaway, anchored in Longboat Key, Fla. He came to Princeton from Christian Brothers Academy, having grown up on the family farm in Colts Neck, N.J. He majored in economics, participated on the Wilson College Social Committee and the Sailing Team, lived at Pyne senior year (after rooming with McGinnis, Conderacci, Pauly, Chitty, and Dennis Thompson), and ate at Stevenson. He is remembered for his integrity, wisdom, generosity, compassion, and love of family and life.

Rich met Maria, his steadfast partner for life, at Douglass. They married in 1973. They were blessed with two daughters, Lisa-Marie and Anastasia, and later two grandchildren.

Rich graduated from law school at George Washington in 1974. His career work was in construction, providing a full range of contract management and legal services. He worked in both the public and private sectors. They lived in Virginia and New Jersey before settling in New England. The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project, NYC’s East Side Access Project, and Boston’s Big Dig project highlighted his career. Rich was a loyal ’71er, attending all but two reunions and serving on Reunions and Annual Giving committees.

Rich and Maria became liveaboards on their boat in 2020, sailing up and down the East Coast from Key Largo, Fla., to Penobscot, Maine, seeking out interesting ports and live music. They were often accompanied by Mick and Melissa McGinnis, their longtime sailing and skiing partners.

The class offers its deepest sympathies to Rich’s family and his many friends.