William R. Richards April 29, 1944 – October 16, 2016 Dr. William R. Richards, President Emeritus at SUNY Orange, formerly of Westtown, New York, died at his home in Aurora, Colorado on October 16, 2016 at the age of 72. The son of the late Eugene and Mary Richards, he was born on April 29, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois Bill received his Bachelor’s Degree, graduating magna cum laude from Regis College (currently Regis University). He earned his Master’s Degree, with honors, from St. Louis University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Denver. Bill went on to have a 36 year academic career featuring 18 years in executive leadership on college campuses. He was an educator in the truest sense of the word, taking pleasure in sharing his wide and varied breadth of knowledge with his students and an even greater pleasure in cheering them on as they succeeded in achieving their goals. When he retired from SUNY Orange, Bill had completed the second longest presidential tenure in the College’s 65 year history, serving from 2003 until June of 2015. He was then honored by being named President Emeritus of the College. Bill was always a participant in his community. During his 12 years in the Middletown, New York area, he was active on many boards and in many organizations throughout the Hudson Valley, including Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Citizens Foundation and Orange County Partnership. He was also a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Goshen, NY. Since returning to the Denver area, Bill has been a parishioner at St. John’s Cathedral and was recently named to the Finance Commission there. In addition, he was a member of his HOA Board. Bill was an Irishman and could tell a story as only an Irishman can, adding embellishments with each telling and joining in with the delight of his audience. He was a man who enjoyed the pleasures of home: his family, writing letters to his young granddaughter so that someday, looking back, she might understand the world she had been born into, a good book, a stimulating conversation, and the Mustang that sat in his garage waiting for those perfect days to take a spin. He loved golf and had even played professionally before the start of his academic career. Most of all, he loved life and lived it well. Bill is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughter Jennifer A. Geiger and her husband, Josef, and his granddaughter, Katherine J. Geiger (Kate). In addition, he is survived by his sister, Mary Patricia Madden, as well as nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Robert Richards. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 27th, 4pm to 6pm, at Fairmount Mortuary. The funeral service will be held on Friday, October 28th, 11am at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington Street, Denver, Colorado, 80203 with interment following at Fairmount Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. The family suggests donations to St John’s Episcopal Cathedral Endowment Fund, Denver CO; the William and Helen Richards Scholarship Fund % SUNY Orange Foundation, Middletown, NY; Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Newburgh, NY; or Inspire (The CP Center), Goshen, NY.