Rick died of a heart attack Aug. 7, 2001, at his home in Newport News, Va. He was 61. Princeton classmates Jack Pearsall, Jim Todd, Rich Bowen, and Bob Ludgin attended the funeral.
Rick prepared at Christchurch School. At Princeton, he majored in politics, was treasurer of Key and Seal, served as business editor of the Daily Princetonian, and played freshman soccer. After graduating cum laude from Princeton, he attended Darden School of Business at U. Va.
A lifelong resident of Newport News and community leader in that area, Rick was president of Abbitt Realty Co., Inc., which was founded by his father in 1946. Begun as a brokerage firm, the company subsequently opened management and real estate insurance divisions. Rick was a member of numerous real estate associations, and served on the boards of Ronald McDonald House in Richmond, Peninsula Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Virginia Living Museum, and several other organizations. He was active in Princeton's alumni association.
He is survived by his wife, the former Carolyn Smith; two sons, Matthew Moore and Stephen Meredith; two daughters, Laura Lenz and Joanna Heath; his mother, Catherine Abbitt; a sister, Emily Woodrum; four grandchildren; and seven nieces and nephews. Another daughter, Margaret, and his father, Meredith Webb Abbitt, predeceased him.
The Class of 1962