DAVID THAYER RICH

1933 - 2023

RICH, David Thayer Passed away peacefully at home in Cambridge, surrounded by his loving family on July 20, 2023, at the age of 90. Born in Newton, MA, David attended Newton public schools and Wesleyan University, where he studied English literature and honed his skills as a jazz clarinetist with the High Street Five band. David was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he trained in radio communications (he could swear in Morse Code) and played in the Army Band in Germany. After his graduation from Columbia University School of Law, David and a friend bought an around the world ticket on PanAm and traveled the world. It was the beginning of a lifelong passion for travel. David met the love of his life, Ellen, in 1965 at the Cambridge Boat Club at a party of a local ski club. Ellen, a French teacher at the time and lifelong non-skier, came with a friend. Two weeks later, he finally got up the courage to ask her out. On their first date they walked across the Boston Common and attended a Moliere play. They married months later and would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this month. David was a devoted father and husband. He and Ellen raised their two children, Catherine and Matthew, in the South End of Boston. A favorite Saturday activity was to take his children bowling at the Kenmore Bowladrome followed by lunch at McDonalds. In later years, David visited homebound elderly residents of the South End as a volunteer for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly. David built a successful career as a lawyer for Sheraton Corporation, negotiating contracts all over the world for over 25 years. Many of his colleagues became lifelong friends. He traveled the world for his work and often brought his family with him, including a two-year stay in London in the mid-80's. A lover of opera and an avid reader, David enjoyed learning throughout his life. In retirement, he joined the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement where he acted and sang and taught a class on Louis Armstrong, one of his heroes. He developed his writing skills at HILR and published a book of short stories. David played jazz saxophone and clarinet in a weekly gig with Jimmy Mazzy and the Last Minute Men at the Colonial Inn in Concord. As a person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), David felt strongly about helping others with this affliction. He volunteered at the OCD clinic at McLean's Hospital and supported the work of the International OCD Foundation. A wonderful listener with a wry sense of humor and a gentle presence, David will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Ellen; daughter Catherine Rich and her husband Andrew Groh of Cambridge; son Matthew Rich and his wife Victoria Fu of San Diego, CA; and three grandchildren Emily, Adam and Mika; as well as nieces Betsy Humphreys of Eliot, Maine and Susan Adams of Portsmouth, NH. David was laid to rest in a family burial service at the Newton Cemetery on July 25th, 2023. Remembrances may be made to the International OCD Foundation, PO Box 961029, Boston, MA 02196.

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