Richard Joseph Kirk ’53

Dick died Feb. 21, 2021, in Kennett Square, Pa., after a life spent in the ministry of the Episcopal Church. Dick was born in Trenton, N.J., and came to Princeton from Trenton Central High School. He was a member of Campus Club, majored in basic engineering, and wrote his thesis on “Accuracies with Various Type Targets in Transit Work.”

He spent the next three years earning a master’s degree in theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York City and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in October 1956. He later earned advanced theological degrees from Temple University and Eden Theological Seminary. Dick served as a parish priest in the dioceses of New Jersey, New York, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, the last 17 years of active ministry as rector of the Church of the Advent, Kennett Square, Pa. He was also interested in parish development and served as a consultant to parishes and dioceses before and after his retirement.

Dick’s first wife, Joyce, died after 33 years of marriage, and his second wife, Jan, died after 26 years of marriage. He is survived by two sons, two daughters, two stepsons, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.