Richard Lannamann

Richard S. Lannamann of Osprey, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026, in Stamford, Connecticut, following a heart attack on Christmas Eve. His loving wife, Kate, was at his side. He was 78. Rick was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather and a distinguished leader in the executive search profession. His family is deeply grateful for the heroic skill, compassion, and unceasing care of the staff at Stamford Hospital.

Born on September 4, 1947, Rick was raised in Cincinnati and graduated from Walnut Hills High School. In 1969, he earned a degree in Economics from Yale University, where he was a resident of the Ezra Stiles College. Rick worked as an investment analyst at US Trust before receiving his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1973. He then joined Smith Barney (now Morgan Stanley), where he became a vice president of the research division.

In 1978, Rick entered the executive search profession, a field in which he would leave a lasting and defining legacy. He advised senior executives at many of the world's leading investment organizations and helped build and define the investment management specialty, first as Managing Director at Russell Reynolds Associates and later as Vice Chairman at Spencer Stuart. Highly esteemed in his sphere, Rick developed trusted relationships at the tops of organizations and was deeply committed to mentoring and developing younger colleagues to succeed him in the field.

Rick also gave tirelessly of his time and leadership to numerous organizations. He was a trustee on the board of the Foreign Policy Association for more than 20 years and was trustee emeritus of the Jackson Laboratory. He was also a long-standing board member of the Sarasota Orchestra and the Boys Choir of Harlem and served as chair on the board of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He was President of the Yale Alumni Association in Greenwich, Connecticut, and of the Yale Club of the Suncoast in Florida, where he remained actively involved, organizing thoughtful, varied, and engaging programs. He also served as a member of the Financial Analysts Seminar Board of Regents, an important advisory body to the CFA Institute.

In all of these roles, Rick was known as a true gentleman and a loyal friend. He was a thoughtful and insightful advisor whose calm presence and careful judgment quietly improved the outcome of deliberations. Upon his retirement from the Jackson Laboratory, Rick remarked, "I hope the Lab has benefited a tenth as much as I have from the association," a sentiment that reflected both his humility and his deep appreciation for the institutions he served.

At 20, Rick was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and this contributed to his character and outlook on life. At every stage, Rick managed his condition and its complications with poise and intelligence, and he maintained a positive attitude by living every moment to its fullest. Due in no small part to his careful and conscientious treatment regimen, he outlived his initial life expectancy by decades.

Rick raised three sons in Riverside, Connecticut, and was a member of the Riverside Yacht Club for more than 50 years. That was where, in 1998, Rick married Kate Lannamann, and the next 27 years were filled with adventure, joy, and deep devotion. They spent Rick's later years in the Sarasota, Florida, area, where Rick was a cherished and respected member of the community.

Music was an essential element of Rick's life. He played the piano from childhood and only grew more accomplished with age. In high school, he served as church organist; at Yale, he sang with the Yale Alley Cats and was the group's business manager for two years, and he played the university's carillon as a summer job. His lifelong connection to music continued through his service on the Yale Alumni Advisory Board of the Guild of Carillonneurs.

Rick also loved to travel. As Global Head of Asset Management for Russell Reynolds, he traveled the world extensively and occasionally took one of his sons along, turning business trips into shared adventures. A master of research, planning, and patience, Rick often joked that he had missed his true calling as a travel agent. He was also an avid boater, and he piloted his Chris-Craft Roamer 40, the Katie T, to all points along the Eastern Seaboard.

Architecture was another deep and absorbing passion. Rick oversaw the design of a custom home on Martha's Vineyard that was featured in House Beautiful, and he later helped create a beautiful Italian-style residence on Casey Key, Florida, where craftsmanship, proportion, and beauty reflected his thoughtful eye and patient care.

Rick was also a valued member of the Foreign Policy Association and lived out its mission by, among other things, leading numerous Great Decisions sessions at the Oaks Club in Osprey, Florida, inspiring others to organize additional groups. His knowledge of domestic and global affairs was formidable, as was his remarkable ability to recall both facts and sources—a skill honed early in his career as a financial analyst.

Rick was predeceased by his mother, Iola "Tommie" Lanaman, and his father, Frank E. Lanaman. He is survived by his wife, Kate; his sister, Virginia Barney; his three sons, Tom (Mari), Ned, and Jack (Kelli), from his first marriage to Margaret Mahoney; his two stepdaughters, Liz Scheffler (John Warner) and Annie Scheffler; and his four grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Rick was admired not only for his intellect and professional excellence, but for his optimism, integrity, and generosity of spirit. He lived with purpose and gratitude, meeting life's challenges with grace and resilience. In his understated way, Rick touched countless lives, leaving a lasting and meaningful impact on all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held on February 21 at Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida, at 1:30 pm. Donations may be made to two organizations that meant a great deal to Rick: the Sarasota Orchestra (sarasotaorchestra.org; 941-487-2716) and the Jackson Laboratory (www.jax.org; 800-474-9880).