Richard F. Hespos ’55

Dick — a kind, thoughtful, and inventive man with a great sense of humor — died Aug. 24, 2021, at an extended-living facility in Hamilton, N.J. He was so inventive that he went by two names, as did his wife. To his Princeton connections he was Dick, but to his family he was Rich. His wife of 63 years was Jill to her many friends, but on all her legal documents she is Arlene.

Dick was born Aug. 26, 1934, at home in North Bergen, N.J., delivered by a midwife who was his grandmother. He was one of more than 1,000 babies she delivered. Dick was also the first member of his family to graduate from high school.

At Princeton on a scholarship, he joined Cannon Club and majored in mechanical engineering. Senior year he roomed with Barry Danner and Mills Ripley. After Princeton he got an MBA from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Columbia.

His working life embraced engineering, computing, and management positions at Bethlehem Steel, McKinsey & Co., Dun & Bradstreet, and Continental Insurance, then finally, a stint as a dean at Harvard Business School. Dick and Jill loved to attend plays, jazz, and lectures and to travel around the world, memorably on Class of  ’55 trips. 

Dick is survived by his wife, Jill; children Sheryl, Michael, and Susan; and brother Jerry.