Glenora Richards

Fitchburg, was internationally
known artist; 100
FITCHBURG Glenora Richards, age 100, of Fitchburg MA, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and famous artist, passed away peacefully with her granddaughter, Jennifer Conner, holding her hand at her bedside on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Hillcrest Nursing Home, in Fitchburg, MA.
Born in New London, Ohio on February 18, 1909, the daughter of the late Tracy and Bertha Case of Litchfield, Ohio, she resided in New Canaan, Connecticut from 1941 until March of 2009.
She and her late husband, Walter D. Richards, also a famous artist, met when they were students at the Cleveland School of Art in the late 1920's when she was sketching customers at a department store. They married and moved to New York City during the Great Depression where they continued their art careers.
In her heyday, she was a world class miniature artist and US postage stamp designer. Her works are in the permanent art collections of the Smithsonian, Yale Art Museum, Worcester Art Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, R.W.S. Galleries in London, England and many others. She won 27 international and national "Best of Show" awards. She was commissioned to do the portraits of many famous US citizens. Lewis Rabbage, the art critic and consultant to many major museums, made the statement that she was the greatest miniature painter of her time, and perhaps ever.
She was also an excellent musician, and played first violin in the first All American High School Orchestra, and was asked to try out for Tanglewood, but couldn't afford the bus ticket from Ohio.
When asked, she would joke that she was the valedictorian of her Litchfield, Ohio (population approximately 200 at the time) high school, by then adding that there were only two other seniors graduating with her.
Often when asked the secret to her long life, always she would answer, "I'm Irish".
She is predeceased by her husband, Walter Richards of New Canaan CT, her son, Henry Richards of Lunenburg MA, her sister, Edith Homer of Litchfield Ohio. She is survived by her son, Timothy Richards (Owner of Orchard Hills Athletic Club and Founding President of the Boys & Girls Club of NCM) and his wife Sheila of Lunenburg, MA, six grandchildren, Jennifer Connor, Kenneth Richards, Camilla Velazquez, Andrew Richards, Alexander Richards and Benjamin Richards, and six great-grandchildren plus a seventh about to be born.
RICHARDS A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at a time to be announced. In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made the Boys & Girls Club of NCM, c/o Tim Richards, 100 Duval Road, Lancaster, MA 01523. The Lavery-Chartrand Funeral Home, 99 Summer St., Fitchburg is assisting the family with arrangements.