Richard France ’26

RICHARD FRANCE, distinguished member of the medical profession, died on Jan. 3, 1993, of cancer, at his home in Williamsburg, Va. Dick, a Gilman graduate, was a well known member of '26, who showed his versatility as a member of the wrestling team, the NASSAU HERALD board, and Phi Beta Kappa. He studied medicine at Johns Hopkins and again made honors. He was in private practice in Baltimore until the War, when he entered the Navy. He saw service in the Pacific, including on Guadalcanal. He left active service in 1946 with the rank of captain and then became chief of medical service, and head of cardiology, at the Veterans Hospital, Nashville, from which he retired in 1969. He then was associated with the faculty of Vanderbilt School of Medicine. He was promoted to professor of medicine, emeritus, in 1976. Dick was the author of numerous professional articles.

As a strong believer in service to others, in November and December of 1968, Dick served in a civilian hospital in Da Nang, Vietnam. He was cited for this work by the American Medical Assn.

His interest in theology led him to take classes at Vanderbilt Divinity School, where he completed the work and thesis for an M.A. in 1972.

Dick was a loyal, strong member of the Class in whom the Class takes pride. Our deep sympathy goes out to Louisa (Finney), whom Dick married in 1945, and their son Joseph and daughter Louisa Lee.

The Class of 1926