Richard M. Bliss Jr. ’79

Body

Rick died of pancreatic cancer March 4, 2020, surrounded by family. 

He grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Phillips Exeter. At Princeton he rowed freshmen crew, finding humor in even the most grueling workouts. An English major and member of Terrace Club, Rick got into theater, directing numerous productions and writing reviews for the Prince. Immediately after Princeton he taught at the International College in Beirut and subsequently earned a master’s degree in English from Stanford. Rick worked briefly in finance in New York before becoming a teacher and tutor, living in central New Jersey. He spent summers from the age of 5 in Maine, “messing around” in boats and reading.

A prolific reader, skilled listener, and storyteller, Rick saw the world through the lens of literature. His daughter recalls the joy he took doing research for articles about favorite authors, particularly James Joyce. He is remembered as calm and steady, a thoughtful presence with a wry sense of humor. 

A former roommate recalls, “Rick carried a bushy head of hair, a loping gait, and a tender heart.” 

The class extends its condolences to his beloved daughter, Clara, and his family and friends.

No responses yet

Join the conversation

Plain text

Full name and Princeton affiliation (if applicable) are required for all published comments. For more information, view our commenting policy. Responses are limited to 500 words for online and 250 words for print consideration.

Paw in print

Image
The October 2025 cover of PAW, featuring an illustration of a woman dressed like Superman, but the S on her chest is a dollar sign.
The Latest Issue

October 2025

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott ’92; President Eisgruber ’83 defends higher ed; Julia Ioffe ’05 explains Russia.