He came to Princeton from Loomis Chaffee School. He majored in politics, wrote his thesis on “American Political Conservatism after the Midcentury,” sailed with the Yacht Club, and briefly joined the rugby club. He took his meals at Key and Seal and played on the club’s football and hockey teams.
After graduation, Richard served in the Air Force and did a tour in Vietnam. He settled thereafter in New Jersey, working first for Fidelity Union Trust in Newark, then the Bank of New Jersey. From 1972 to 1985 he held varying positions in the finance office of the State of New Jersey.
In 1985, Richard moved to Memphis and began a career in education. He took successive master’s degrees at Memphis State University — the first in English language arts and the second in teaching English as a second language. During this time, he taught English at public schools in Memphis. In 1990, he joined the faculty of Rust College, a private historically Black college in Holly Springs, Miss., commuting from Memphis, a 45-minute drive. At Rust, he was an instructor in the humanities department until 1998.
Richard is survived by his wife, Mary Ann.