Richard J. Riordan ’52
Dick came from Cranwell Prep to study philosophy and joined Terrace, the Catholic Club, Westchester Club, and the Rugby Club. He roomed with Ted McAlister.
After serving as an officer in the artillery in Korea he went to the University of Michigan Law School and graduated at the top of his class.
Dick worked at the noted Los Angeles firm of O’Melveny and Myers, founded his own financial firm in 1975, and built a fortune from real estate and tech startups.
In 1981 he established the Riordan Foundation to support urban schools. In 1993, he won election as mayor of Los Angeles at a troubled time after the beating of Rodney King. He became known for quick action in times of trouble, including after the Northridge earthquake of 1994.
Dick died April 14, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; and daughters Mary, Kathleen, and Patricia. The class’s good wishes go to them, with appreciation of Dick’s service to Los Angeles and to our nation.
Paw in print
October 2024
Exit interviews with alumni retiring from Congress; the Supreme Court’s seismic shift; higher education on the ballot
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