Richard A. Oertli ’69

Dick died May 27, 2023, exactly as he wanted, in his cabin at the top of Mount Evans in Colorado.

He was raised in Saint Louis and spoke warmly of growing up there. Dick attended St. Louis Country Day School, where he was active in student council and on the football, soccer, and track teams.

At Princeton, Dick played freshman and JV football and participated in the karate  club and the Undergraduate Schools Committee. He was a member of Ivy, and senior year he roomed in Blair Tower with Ed Craig and Joe Freschi. His friends remember him as complicated, self-disciplined, hard-working, and forthright in expressing his opinions.

These qualities served him well in his post-Princeton years. Following graduation, Dick joined the Marine Corps, and he remained a devoted participant in the brotherhood of the corps for the rest of his life. Following his military service, he earned a law degree in 1976 at St. Louis University School of Law. He practiced law for more than 30 years at various firms in St. Louis and Denver, finally becoming a sole practitioner in Evergreen, Colo.

Dick loved the mountains and the Colorado lifestyle, and his life there was filled with satisfaction and happiness. He taught his kids to appreciate the importance of real fireplaces, amazing literature, snowflakes, good storytelling, funny friends, loyal dogs, and dinner with family.

Dick is survived by his children, Hilary Von Rohr, Clayton, Danny, and Morgan Marie Oertli; his grandchildren; and his brother Robert.