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Roxbury Latin School Phillips Exeter Academy Amherst College Harvard University

RICHMOND MAYO-SMITH Obituary

Name: Memorial service for RICHMOND MAYO-SMITH
Start: 2015-01-25T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Exchange Conference Center

MAYO-SMITH--Richmond Richmond Mayo-Smith of Boston passed away peacefully at home on January 10, 2015 at the age of 92. He will be remembered as a wise, kind, thoughtful, loving and generous person. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy Fox Mayo-Smith, with whom he has spent 65 adventurous years; three children and their spouses, Richmond, Michael and Katrina (loved by all Classes), along with six grandchildren, Michael, Leslie, Maxwell, My An, My Tam and My Xuan for whom he was a devoted grandfather. A memorial service will at the Exchange Conference Center, 212 Northern Avenue, Boston MA Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mayo-Smith Tree Fund, Friends of the Boston Public Garden (69 Beacon St, Boston MA 02108, friendsofthepublicgarden.org). Biography: Richmond graduated from Noble & Greenough School, Amherst College, (BA 1944), Harvard University (MA Education 1950). He served in the U.S. Army Field Artillery as staff sergeant seeing combat in Europe. He had a distinguished career in education teaching at Phillips Exeter Academy from1946-62. In 1962 he moved to India to work for World Education (adult literacy). He returned to Boston in 1965 to become Headmaster of Roxbury Latin School until 1973. He continued his work with World Education and served as Chairman from 1975 until 1981, and remained on the Board until 2003. He also served on numerous school boards. He also served as Chairman of STOP Nuclear War (Students, Teachers Organized to Prevent Nuclear War); Chairman of Educators for Social Responsibility; Chairman of Common Cause MA; Chairman of Center for Psychology and Social Change; Board Member, Marion Foundation. In the last two decades, he worked with spiritual leaders and organizations from around the world to gain a better understanding of new worldviews to save the earth and all living beings.

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Published by New York Times on Jan. 18, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHMOND MAYO-SMITH

21 Entries

Debashish Chakravarti

June 5, 2025

In the early 1960s, I was a schoolboy at La Martinière Girls High School in Lucknow, India. I remember the Mayo-Smiths well as one of the boys was in our class. They had a green Jeep Wagoneer, possibly the only one in Lucknow at the time.

Dennis France

September 8, 2019

Dick was a visionary as headmaster of Roxbury Latin, preparing us all for the 21st century. I feel fortunate to have spent all six years there under his stewardship. Truly a great man. -Dennis France class of 1972

Vanessa Kirsch

September 6, 2015

I had a dream last night about Dick and woke up this morning, googled him and found this site. Dick was an amazing mentor to me. He set me on my course of life-long activism. I met him when I was in high school and somehow was asked to join the board of S.T.O.P Nuclear War. He coached us young people as effective board members and change agents. It had an indelible effect on me - as I continue to change the world. He was a truly great role model and mentor and I most loved how he believed in the power of young people. My condolences to his family.

Andrew Sears

May 12, 2015

Dear Nancy, Rick, Michael, and Katrina,

I read just this morning of Dick's passing and was flooded with memories of the day you arrived on Quail St. in the microbus, and the ensuing years. You all had a profoundly positive impact on my life and for that I have always been grateful. I cherish the memories of having young neighbors to grow with. I loved visiting with you in Point 'o Woods. And I particularly appreciate the positive influence Dick had on RLS, and still grieve the loss from the day his impending departure was announced. I had a very short time with him at the school, but i had a lifetime with you all as neighbors, where I developed a love and a bond that has remained with me forever.

I can't imagine how his loss feels for you. I miss you all, and am grateful for your presence in my life.

With love and gratitude, Andrew Sears

Katinka De Balogh

March 8, 2015

Over 10 years ago my husband while travelling to Africa told me about a remarkable man he had met on the airplane. A few weeks after his return the book Seabiscuit arrived in the post for me. This weekend the Seabiscuit movie was shown on TV and I retrieved the book in my bookshelf with the small note from Mr. Richmond Mayo-Smith. While googling his name I find this site and that Mr May-Smith has passed on just a few days after my father died at age 90.

Although I never met Mr Mayo-Smith he certainly must have been a very special person and I wish his family and friends much strengths.

January 31, 2015

The James O. Dunn family sends their condolences to all.

January 31, 2015

The Dunn family sends their best to
He Mayo Smith family and our condolences to all.

Jack Cowles

January 31, 2015

Dear Mrs. Mayo-Smith, Rick and Michael,
I am from the graduating class of 1970 at Roxbury Latin and I just wanted to pass on my condolences and a few thoughts about your husband and my Head-Master. I was an innovative and committed educator that was the perfect man for the job when he came to Roxbury Latin. My brother graduated from Roxbury Latin in 1965 with a graduating class of 22 students even though they started out with 40 in 1959. Richard made the commitment that if students were accepted into Roxbury Latin then the school had an obligation to do everything they could to retain that student.Our graduating class started out with 44 students and graduated 44. This new philosophy is what allowed me to graduate in 1970 as I was not one of the top students by any means and would have been asked to leave under past head-masters. He brought so much to the school that had become staid. He reinvigorated the arts, the glee club, was instrumental with initiating independent studies for seniors and with Hollas Nicholas started Beaver Brook which is still a major part of the 6'ie experience today. It was a trying time in our society and I know he had a troubled time at Roxbury Latin towards the end but he always stood for what he believed in and led many of the changes at the school that are still in place today. I was so sad to see him go but it was my fortune that I was able to have him for all 6 yrs.
My best to Michael and specially Rick as we were classmates and teammates on our successful lacrosse team of 1970. I do not believe Rick has ever been back to a reunion and that may be because he is so far away but his classmates all do miss him and we hope that someday we can meet up again.
I hope this gets to you and would just appreciate a quick reply, if possible, saying that you received this note.
My best to you and your family for a great man and educator.
Jack Cowles [email protected]

G.G. Mills

January 25, 2015

I wish I had more opportunity to get to know him better. He was an extraordinary gentlemen.

Serena Poisson

January 21, 2015

Richmond was a true gentleman, a friend to my husband and me, with a strong vision for the future which could be. Dedicated to that vision, he did so much to ensure that future. You will be missed, my dear friend.

Woody Kingman

January 19, 2015

Dick was a loyal Amherst friend for many years. I remember well our days together in Dick's beloved New England. Condolences to his friends and family.

Carol Bershad

January 18, 2015

Dick was a wonderful visionary, role model, mentor, and friend. He truly lived his values and showed us all how to live more authentically and to continue to question and learn. Dick brought me on board to ESR. I learned so much from him when we served on the ESR Board together. He will be deeply missed.

January 18, 2015

A great, good man who was instrumental in sending many, many p;promising young men out to a challenging world!

Neil Savage,
Former Activist
The Roxbury Latin School

Bruce Dannenberg

January 18, 2015

Richmond was a truly great person who has made a positive difference in the world and to its future.

Gene Thompson-Grove

January 18, 2015

Dick changed my life - I am a different person as a result of his mentoring of me when I was coordinator of Boston ESR. His legacy is wide-spread. Thank you, Dick.

Dirk Coburn

January 18, 2015

Just a few years of observing Richmond Mayo-Smith and listening to his thoughtful addresses in school assembly gave me and many other students a touchstone to which I return from time to time to focus myself on grace, reasoned insight, and caring for others. We are all better for his having lived as he did. He will be missed but not forgotten.

michelle plakas-kaiser

January 17, 2015

rip

Sarah Lamstein

January 16, 2015

A truly gentle man.

john schlosser

January 16, 2015

Dick was a positive and kind person and the times that his tenure as Headmaster at Roxbury Latin School was turbulent to say the least. He handled that lonely position with grace. He shared the school facilities and his home in 1971 when my wife Nancy and I were married in August of that year. And he supported innovation in all areas of the school including Lifetime Sport and Outward Bound Programs as an adjunct to Required Athletics--a challenging position at the time!
What a gentleman! John Schlosser , Athletic Director , 1969-73, Roxbury Latin School.

Paul Bernstein

January 15, 2015

Richmond was very generous, caring, supportive, inquisitive, open-minded -- and persistent in bettering the lives of people in many countries around the globe. Our planet needs a lot more people like him.

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