RICHARD ALAN CASH

CASH, Richard Alan A Kid from Milwaukee, Wisconsin Helped Save Millions of Lives Around the World Richard Alan Cash passed away in his sleep on October 22 after an eight-month battle with brain cancer. His wife Stella was by his side. Richard lived life to the full and on his own terms – a free spirit and loving soul, a medical doctor turned public health guru, a kid from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who won a global health prize. Richard spent his childhood with his parents, Isabel (a devoted mother who nourished her children's cultural and intellectual curiosity) and Irv (a prominent and progressive family physician), his younger sisters, Kathy and Ellen, and a large extended family, descendants of Eastern European Jews. Richard's affinity for the natural sciences began early, when he discovered the dioramas in Milwaukee's Museum of Natural History. He excelled athletically and intellectually at Jean Nicolet High School (Go Knights!), graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, then New York University School of Medicine. After interning at Bellevue Hospital, Richard relocated to Dacca, East Pakistan to work at the Cholera Research Laboratory (CRL): now the International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). That decision shaped his career and life. In the 1960s, together with David Nalin, Richard conducted the first clinical trials of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) in cholera patients. Richard later advised BRAC (the world's largest NGO founded in Bangladesh) on its Oral Therapy Extension Program, which taught over 13 million mothers and caregivers to prepare ORT at home by stirring a pinch of salt and handful of sugar into a glass of clean water. In 2006, the Royal Thai Government presented Richard, David Nalin and Dilip Mahalanobis a joint Prince Mahidol Award for their "exemplary contributions in the field of public health": specifically, for their "contributions to the application of the oral rehydration solution in the treatment of severe diarrhea worldwide". UNICEF stated "No other single medical breakthrough of the 20th century has had the potential to prevent so many deaths over such a short period of time and at so little cost." The World Health Organization estimates ORT has saved over 60 million lives. Bangladesh remained a touchstone in Richard's life. He returned annually to work with the ICDDR,B and teach at the BRAC School of Public Health. He also lived, worked and taught in India. Beginning in 1977, Richard made Cambridge, Massachusetts his home base, teaching at the Harvard (T.H. Chan) School of Public Health and running projects for the Harvard Institute for International Development. Richard deeply influenced countless students. Wherever he traveled, from Mexico to Vietnam, he would meet former students who credited him with inspiring their passion for public health. Richard was a collector of Asian art, a lover of books and movies, a jazz aficionado, a "cheesehead" who remained devoted to the Green Bay Packers and UW Badgers. He had a knack for making friends, welcoming conversation with an endless reservoir of knowledge and curiosity, asserting his opinions with a rare mix of passion and civility. Richard met Stella Dupuis, a Swiss writer, businesswoman, and yoga instructor, at an Ayurvedic spa in Kerala, India. Stella was born in Panama and raised in Colombia. Her vivacity and curiosity about India resonated with his own intellectual and cultural interests. Stella, who had been previously married, was the proud mother of two sons, who later blessed them with four grandchildren. The couple bonded over their shared passion for art and adventure, embarking on journeys to the farthest reaches of Asia, Africa, and South America. Together, they explored not just the world's landscapes, but also its rich cultural heritage. Richard Cash's legacy goes beyond the millions of lives he helped save. He also deeply enriched the lives of those who knew him. His final months, spent under the devoted care of Stella, were marked by the same grace, humor, and kindness that defined his 83 remarkable years. Funeral will be held at 11am Sunday, October 27 at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., BROOKLINE, MA. Burial will follow at Netherlands Cemetery, 38 Linwood Ave., Melrose, MA. A Memorial will be held at a future date. Richard's wife, Stella, requests instead of flowers, donations be made to the BRAC Ultra Poor Graduation Initiative at https://bracusa.donorsupport.co/page/drcash Levine Chapels, Brookline www.levinechapels.com 617-277-8300