George R. Richason Jr.

1916 - 2015

AMHERST - George R. Richason, Jr., 99, died Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was born in Turners Falls, April 3, 1916, attended Gill public schools and graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1932. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts in 1937, a M.S. from UMass in 1939, and an Honorary D.Sci. in 1991. He did other graduate work at Bowdoin College, M.I.T., Clark University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Ames National Laboratory.
He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942 as an Ensign, served active duty from 1941-1946 and in the active reserve until 1969. He was retired as a Commander, USNR. Assignments included teaching advanced electronics at M.I.T., Officer in Charge of the Patent Section of the Office of Naval Research (Boston), and Radar Officer of Fleet Air Wing 16. He was a member of VFW Post 754.
He taught science and mathematics at Turners Falls High School from 1939-1942 and 1946-1947. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UMass in 1947, Associate Professor in 1957, and Professor in 1964, and served as Associate Head of the Chemistry Department starting in 1959. He did part-time teaching at General Electric and Holyoke Community College. He served as a Reviewer-Consultant for Van Nostrand Reinhold, Holden Day Inc., Houghton-Mifflin Co., McGraw-Hill Book Co., John Wiley and Sons, and Worth Publishing Co. Professional affiliations included the American Chemical Society, New England Association of Chemistry Teachers, and Sigma Xi. Professional honors included election to Phi Eta Sigma, a National Science Foundation Fellowship, and designation as the UMass Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 1963. As such he served as Mace Bearer at all UMass Commencements and other events where an academic procession is appropriate. He served as Radiological Safety Officer and Chairperson of the Nuclear Energy Council and Radiation Use Committee. He was elected to the Faculty Senate and Chairperson of its Rules Committee. He has served on virtually every University standing committee many ad hoc committees, and numerous selection committees. He retired in 1976, he then served under contract until 2002, as part-time Associate Head of the Department of Chemistry. He continued to serve as an Undergraduate Student Advisor until his death.
He served as assistant coach of football, basketball and baseball at Turners Falls High School. He was one of the founders of the Turners Falls Athletic Club and served several terms as president and continuously on its Board of Directors. At the University he was appointed to the Athletic Council in 1961 and served as chairperson or secretary for over 30 years. He was chairperson of committees to select a Dean of the School of Physical Education, three Head Football Coaches, three Head Basketball Coaches, associate Athletic Director, and Business Manager. He was elected to the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.
He was active in the UMass Alumni Association, and was elected to serve on the Board of Directors from 1968-1994, its Executive Committee from 1968-1991, Chairman of Awards and Honorary Degrees from 1965-1994, Nominating Committee for 20 years and numerous selection committees. He received the Associate Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to the University in 1974, and numerous special citations. In 1994 he was named a lifetime member of the Board of Directors, Emeritus.
A resident of Amherst since 1947, he served many terms as a town meeting member, and several terms on the Amherst Developmental Commission. He was one of the founders of the Amherst Little League, and then the Amherst Babe Ruth League. A longtime member of the Amherst Golf Club, he was President for 4 years and a member of the Board of Directors for 14 years. He was active at the Thomas Memorial Golf Club in Turners Falls as well.
He was a communicant and lector at St. Brigid's Church, Amherst, and a lifetime member of the Amherst Council of the Knights of Columbus.
George is survived by his son Mark John, of Amherst. He was predeceased by his wife Frances Joan (Lipinski), and sons, George R. M. III and Craig Alan.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 9 a.m. from the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Brigid's Church, Amherst. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Brigid's Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be Monday, April 20, from 5-8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the George Richason, Jr. scholarship fund c/o the Department of Chemistry 710 N. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA 01003.
Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com