Richard E. Katilavas ’69

Ric died Oct. 23, 2022, after a brief hospital stay and short-term rehabilitation. He was 78 and lived in Crest Hill, Ill.

Following graduation from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Ric entered Princeton in 1962 with the Class of 1966. He participated in fencing, football, and track and joined Elm Club. About the time that the Class of 1969 entered Princeton, Ric took a leave of absence and returned to Chicago. He took classes at the University of Illinois Chicago Circle, was certified as a medical technician, and worked at Holy Cross Hospital.

Ric reentered Princeton as a member of our class, changing his major from English to biochemistry. During his remaining time at the University, he ate independently and worked part time as a medical technologist.

After Princeton, Ric worked for Warner-Lambert, Ciba-Geigy, and then Hoffmann-La Roche doing regulatory compliance in product-information documentation. Concurrently, he did graduate work at Rutgers in chemical engineering with a biochemical option.

Always fond of running, Ric completed 12 marathons and two ultra-marathons before being seriously injured by a drunk driver. He returned to Chicago, where he worked for the Epilepsy Foundation of Chicago. Most recently, he was a substitute teacher for the Joliet and Lockport high school districts.

Ric is survived by his sisters, Sharon Medek and Lin Oliver; their families; and his longtime friend Alice Sunke. The class extends to all of them its heartfelt sympathy.