Colt Thomas Richter

1994 - 2018

Colt Thomas Richter was born on June 21, 1994, in Anchorage, Alaska, and died on July 18, 2018, at the age of 24, in a tragic airplane accident.
Colt attended Rogers Park Elementary, Romig Middle School and graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Anchorage High School in 2012. In high school, he was active in many organizations, including the varsity ski team and the Alaska team for the "We the People" Constitutional Law competition in Washington D.C. His Alaska team placed in the top 10 in the nation. Colt joined the Anchorage Youth Court in 2008, serving as a defense attorney and then Chief Justice and, in addition, helped mentor many of his peers.
After high school, Colt went on to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2016. Colt was an active member of many of the University's organizations, including the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and the Ohms a cappella group. He served four years as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician on campus and in his junior year became the Chief of Emergency Services for MIT and the surrounding Cambridge area. During his junior and senior years, he co-taught a course at MIT on basic flight aerodynamics, safety and regulations. He had an active leadership role in the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program, which provides a challenging and supportive environment for students to develop skills to help them become highly effective future leaders. Colt was one of three undergraduate students selected to serve on the Advisory Council for the President of MIT.
Colt was a lifelong Alaskan and adventurous world traveler. He visited much of the U.S., as well as many locales overseas, including Croatia, Japan, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved to fly, fish, hunt, camp, ski and skydive. He truly loved to do anything outdoors. Colt was his father's co-pilot from an early age, earned his pilot's license on his 17th birthday and became a flight instructor and Airline Transport Pilot. For the past four years, Colt worked as a commercial pilot for several companies in Alaska, including Fly Denali, Hilcorp, Ravn Air and Regal Air. He was also an accomplished musician who could sing, play piano and guitar.
Colt's dream was to become an orthopedic surgeon and he was set to start University of Washington medical school this August. He was committed to the well-being and service of others.
Colt was an amazing person, son, friend and colleague. His drive and passion for learning was unparalleled, yet he was known to be modest about his knowledge and accomplishments. Colt was a most trusted friend, confidant and advisor, who made everyone around him want to be the best version of themselves. He did not waste a moment of his time on this Earth, and he made it clear how much he cared about his friends and family. He will be remembered as a "best friend" to many people, an inspiration to everyone who knew him and the perfect son to his parents.
Colt was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents; maternal grandfather, Lt. Col. (Ret.) USAF, Thomas Dolan; and aunt, Jill Richardson. He is survived by his loving parents, Cathy and Rick Richter; his maternal grandmother, Barbara Dolan; his adoring aunts, Carolyn and Susan Dolan; and countless friends and family members.
The world is dimmer for having lost Colt, but heaven is brighter for having gained him. Blue skies and tailwinds to the best person so many of us were fortunate enough to know.
Funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 616 West 10th Avenue in Anchorage, on Thursday, July 26, 2018, at 11 a.m., followed by burial services at Angelus Memorial Park, 440 East Klatt Road. A celebration of life will be held at Hilltop Chalet, 7015 Abbott Road, on Friday, July 27, 2018, from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Flowers may be sent to First Presbyterian Church or, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colt's name to either the Anchorage Youth Court, the Alaska Red Cross or a charity of your choice.