Richard H. Rahe ’58

Dick died March 24, 2022, in Wilsonville, Ore. He was 85.

He came to Princeton from Garfield High School in Seattle, where he skied, played football, and participated in student government and dramatics.

At Princeton, Dick was on freshman crew and the ski team and was a member of Dial Lodge. He roomed with John Danielson, Walt Strine, Bill Holcomb, Phil Childress, Sandy Ross, and Jim Haugh.

Dick left Princeton in the spring of 1957 to enter medical school at the University of Washington. During his psychiatry residency at UW, he partnered with Thomas Holmes to develop the Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale, an inventory that evaluates one’s stress level and the likelihood of it causing stress-related illness.

Dick married fellow UW alum Laurie Davies, with whom they had two children, Brad and Annika.

Completing his residency, he joined the Navy, and during the next 20 years in Stockholm, Guam, San Diego, and Reno, Dick published 168 scientific articles as well as two books recounting his professional experiences concerning stress and coping with coronary illness.

Dick enjoyed scuba diving and underwater photography, which became a passion and hobby. He remained a lifelong athlete and was a U.S. Masters swimmer for 20 years in which he won many medals.

Dick is survived by his wife, Sohyon; his daughter, Annika; and two grandchildren. The class extends its deepest sympathy to them all.