David was born March 14, 1939 in Portland, ME the son of Robert Ladd Richards, MD, and Janice Kimball Richards. He grew up in Chester, VT, and attended Harvard College ('61), where he rowed three undefeated years on the Varsity Lightweight Crew team, which he captained his senior year. He received Masters Degrees from Wadham College, Oxford ('63) and Harvard Business School ('65). He was an investment manager who was dedicated to advancing thinking about economic theory and to developing solutions to current economic and foreign policy problems.
David had a deep respect for the people and communities of the Maine Coast, the fisheries, the arts and the natural beauty. He enjoyed the solace, the walks, the shared lobster-roll lunches with friends, and the entire Deer Isle/Stonington community. He loved to get out on the water in the calm, early morning hours to row in his ocean shell around the islands.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; his two sons, Adam and Peter; two grandchildren, Theo and Ian; and his brother, Robert.
Published in BDN Maine March 31, 2015.
David K. Richards, an investment manager and philanthropist who funded unique research on what it would take to make an independent Palestinian state viable as well as on the costs of the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has died. He was 75.
Richards, who was a major donor to the RAND Corporation, died March 19 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at his home in Santa Monica, his family announced.
His ties to RAND spanned more than a decade. Richards was a member of the RAND Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2014, served on the board of advisors of RAND Health from 2000 to 2014, and the advisory board of the organization's Center for Middle East Public Policy from 2003 to 2014.
"The David I knew was a true visionary, bold in his thinking, with an ability to express his thoughts clearly and convincingly," said Michael Rich, president and chief executive officer of RAND. "It is impossible to overstate how much David meant to me and the many others he touched here."
The first RAND study Richards underwrote - "Building a Successful Palestinian State" -focused on a single question: How can an independent Palestinian state, if created, be made successful? It came about after Richards contacted RAND, hoping to see an end to the Israeli-Palestine conflict.
When the report was released in 2005, it contained, "the most comprehensive recommendations ever made for the success of an independent Palestinian state," a RAND release said at the time. The long list of suggested improvements included a landmark rail, highway and infrastructure link between the West Bank and Gaza intended to spur development in a new Palestinian state.
Under a headline that read "The Day After Peace: Designing Palestine," the New York Times wrote about the pioneering research in 2005, saying that RAND had delivered a "gimlet-eyed survey of life in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that shows how far Palestinians are from viable statehood." Two years later, the Middle East Journal called the study a "refreshingly upbeat 'how to' manual" that identified the main challenges to an independent Palestinian state.
A second and equally ambitious RAND study funded by Richards and his wife, on the costs of the enduring Israeli-Palestine conflict, is scheduled to be released this spring.
"David wasn't Jewish, he wasn't Palestinian, and the only goal he had in either study was to find a way to do something helpful for U.S. policy and the region," said Charles Ries, vice president, International at RAND. "He really did have vision, really brave vision, and he drew on RAND to try to help leaders in the Middle East move it toward reality."
David Kimball Richards was born in 1939 in Maine, the son of Robert Ladd Richards, M.D. and the former Janice Kimball, and grew up in Vermont. He attended Harvard College, receiving his bachelor's degree in English literature in 1961.
At Harvard, he rowed for three undefeated years on the varsity lightweight crew team, which he captained his senior year. His fellow athletes established the David K. Richards Small Boat Endowment Fund at Harvard to purchase training boats for up-and-coming rowers in perpetuity.
He earned a master's degree in 1963 in philosophy, politics and economics from Wadham College, Oxford University and a second master's degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School in 1965. Harvard and Wadham colleges were prominent among his philanthropic interests.
From 1973 to 1991, Richards worked as a fund manager for two noted investment firms, Capital Research and Management in Los Angeles, and PRIMECAP Management in Pasadena, California.
Richards also had a career-long dedication to advancing thinking about economic theory and developing solutions to economic and foreign policy problems. His support for the Joint Center for History and Economics at Harvard and Cambridge universities reflects these concerns. In addition, he was a founding member of the Global Partners Council of the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
In 1967, Richards married Carol A. Liebich. Their eldest son, Adam, is a physician and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA School of Medicine. Their other son, Peter, is an actor and director based in New York.
Richards is survived by his wife and children, grandchildren Theo and Ian, and a brother, Robert C. Richards.
Since 1979, David Richards had lived part of each year with his family on a farm in Stonington, Maine, and loved to get out on the surrounding water in the calm, early-morning hours and go rowing, his family said."He was the quintessential out-of-the-box thinker," said Jeffrey Wasserman, vice president of RAND Health. "I think of him like Wayne Gretzky, skating not to where the puck is, but where it is going to be."
-SUBMITTED BY LISA SODDERS
Bruce Twombly
I was sorry to read of David's passing. Dave was a good athlete, great student, and a
wonderful friend to all his classmates. Our class of 1957 was better because David
was a part of it. R.I.P. David
Condolences to his family.
Jon Emerson
I am deeply saddened by David's passing. I have many fond memories of our time together both in school and outside the school setting. Brother Bob used to join us. I want to express my deepest sympathy to the entire Richards family. God Bless.
I want to add a PS.....We have lost other dear colleagues over the years, and as we get older we are reminded how precious every day is to our lives. We are a close and wonderful class, so look positive to every day.
My best to David's family and to to the entire class, who admired him deeply.
Jon Emerson
Bradley Dunbar
I am saddened by David's death. He was a smart, caring, friendly classmate and teammate. I have many fond memories of our school days together and treasure being able to reconnect with Dave in this past year. He will be greatly missed.
Thomas Chase
I lived in the Mountain View section of Chester on Rt 103 So. when the Richards moved next door at #11. I was in the 2nd grade then and school was in the now Chester Historical brick building "downtown". It was handy that the DR. Richards was there as I had many accidents trying to ride a bicycle at the age of 7. In Chester Dr Richards & Dr. Jackson made a great team for the residents.
Shortly after they arrived, my family moved to Spfld. This was my first relationship with the Richard Family. I don't know when they moved to Spfld. Appreciated the dedication that Dave & Bobby did with our class and the HS. I remember them well, nice family and guys. Anyone that "Heads West" (aviator term for the deceased), is a sorrowful time. Alarming that he had such a dreadful (ALS, Lou Gehrig) disease, first I heard about Dave's condition. Dave was a fun dependable guy.
All the best to all of their family.
Brian Cluff
It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to love and admire them, but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them.
Susan Millett
I greatly appreciated Dave's kindness and friendliness to me at SHS. He was/is a noble person. My condolences to his family - he will be missed.
Rod Murch
Dave was a true leader all his life, from student council, to sports right up to and through his life as a top executive with large mutual funds. As a person he was and friend and a very respected member of our class and our community. He will be missed by all of us who knew him.
Blessings to his family at this most difficult time. He is now at peace from this very terrible disease.
Rev. Dr. Roger Ireson
I am also saddened to hear of the death of David. As one who came to SHS in my second year of high school, I remember that David was kind to me in his welcome and helpful. I am also relieved to hear from his brother that his passing was peaceful which is a blessing. It was good to see him again at the reunion. He was very bright and fun to be with in school classes and events. An enduring memory is his participation with the basketball team in the All New England tournament in Boston. We shall all miss him.
Kenneth Goodrich
kenneth m goodrich
i am sadden by david passing. he was always so kind to his classmates. he will be missed.
condolences to his family.
Marylyn Murray (Wentworth)
David was an important person in my life. He was my very first boyfriend and remained a friend throughout my whole life. He has given so much more to the world than anyone will ever know about as he shared what he had quietly. He has been a supporter of my little school, The New School, since its inception and having his support and his faith in what I am doing with my life has meant so much. I will miss him terribly. Marylyn