Richard A. Debs *63

Richard died Jan. 28, 2024, at his home in Providence, R.I.

Born in Providence in 1930, he was the son of Syrian immigrants who relocated to Brooklyn.

Richard earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate in 1952, an L.L.B. from Harvard in 1958, and a Ph.D. in Oriental languages and literature from Princeton in 1963. He was a Fulbright scholar in Cairo and wrote his doctoral dissertation on “Property Law in Egypt: Islamic Law and Civil Code.”

In 1960, Richard joined the legal department of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He became secretary of the bank and ultimately first vice president. In 1976, he became the founding president of Morgan Stanley International, a role that demanded familiarity with diverse cultures and the ability to engage with people across many different societies.

Richard was a philanthropist with wide-ranging passions who dedicated himself to board service for many organizations. He served as chair of the American University of Beirut, and chair of Carnegie Hall. His other philanthropic engagements included the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the New-York Historical Society, and the Brooklyn Museum.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara; children Elizabeth and Nicholas; and granddaughters Isabel and Zoe.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.