Frank D. Rich

FRANK D. RICH - 83, long time chairman of the F. D. Rich Company, Stamford's primary urban redeveloper, and founder and current chairman of the Stamford Center for the Arts, passed away on August 7, 2007 at his home in Darien, CT.

He was born in Stamford, CT on July 4, 1924, to the late Frank D. Rich and Mary C. Rich.

Mr. Rich attended Stamford public schools, graduating from Stamford High School, Class of 1941, attended Cornell University, and graduated from Princeton University in 1945 with a B.S. in Engineering.

He served as lst Lieutenant in the Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean Conflict, with assignments which included the Mediterranean and China.

Upon returning from the service, Mr. Rich began his business career with F. D. Rich Company, developing and building a broad range of construction projects spanning the U.S., including Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including Stamford's urban renewal project.

Mr. Rich's civic and philanthropic contributions were many.

He was a trustee of the Low-Heywood Thomas School from 1960-1969 and board president from 1968-1975, a director of the Stamford Museum and Nature Center from 1971-1984 and board president from 1973-1976, a director of Stamford State Opera and successor, Connecticut Grand Opera from 1973-1992 and board president from 1979-1992. He served as a trustee at the University of CT from 1974-1993, and vice chair from 1975-1992, and also a director of the University of CT Foundation from 1974-1980. He was a trustee of the Connecticut Public Expenditure Council in Hartford from 1976-1982. Mr. Rich was founder of Stamford Center for the Arts, served as president (1978-1999) and chairman from 1989 to the time of his death. From 1978Ð1996, he served as a director of St. Joseph Medical Center in Stamford. In 1979, Mr. Rich became a trustee of The Ferguson Library and later vice chairman and chairman from 1999-2000.

In 1980, Mr. Rich became of member of the Governor's Heritage Task Force. Mr. Rich was a director of the Southwestern Area Commerce and Industry Association (SACIA) from 1981-1992. He also served as a director of Connecticut Public Broadcasting from 1982 Ð 1992. From 1985-1993, Mr. Rich was on the regional board of directors for the National Conference of Christians and Jews in Hartford, CT.

Mr. Rich served as a director of the New England Foundation for the Arts in Cambridge, MA from 1986-1996. He also served at Yale New-Haven Hospital from 1989-1994. Mr. Rich became a director of New England Lyric Operetta in 1993.

In 1999, the Rich Concourse at the UConn Stamford Campus was dedicated in his honor along with his Father F. D. Rich, Sr. and his brother Robert. Mr. Rich and his brother established the Rich Fund for the CT Information Technology Institute at the Stamford campus and the Mary C. Rich Scholarship in honor of their mother.

A born inventor, Frank Rich's foreign and domestic patents included a building employing prefabricated room-enclosed modules which were used in hotel and housing projects throughout the country.

His professional affiliations included the American Assn. of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, where he was ordained a Knight of Malta at St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1990, he was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the First Friday Group, Washington, DC from 1987-1994, the Economic Club of New York where he was a member from 1988-1992, and Chi Epsilon, the National Civil Engineering Honor Society.

Mr. Rich was awarded numerous honors during his lifetime, including receiving the 1984 National Human Relations Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews, the Silver Hope Chest Award from the Multiple Sclerosis Society in 1985, the University Service Award from the UConn Alumni Association in 1986, he received the 1986 Stamford Citizen of the Year Award from the Jewish War Veterans, Fred Robbins Post No. 142, and the Building a Better Connecticut Association award from the Associated General Contractors of CT in 1988. In 1990, Mr. Rich received his honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at Sacred Heart University, and with the Rich family received the American Heart Associations 2001 Gold Heart Award for southwestern CT. In 1991, Mr. Rich received the Angel Award at the International Society of Performing Arts Administrators Conference at the United Nations. Stamford Center for the Arts honored Mr. Rich and the Rich Family with the Star Award at the gala opening of Rich Forum in 1992. He was presented with the 1992 Connecticut Arts Award by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. He was the recipient of the University Medal from the University of Connecticut in 1994. The March of Dimes honored Mr. Rich and the Rich Family with their 1997 Real Estate Award, and he was also the recipient of the 1998 Rotary Club of Stamford's Paul Harris Award. At commencement exercises at the University of CT in 1999, he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

The Stamford Symphony Orchestra honored Mr. Rich at their Gala benefit in 2000. Along with his brother, Mr. Rich was inducted into the SHS Wall of Fame for exemplary accomplishments. In 2001, Mr. Rich received the Distinguished Advocate for the Arts Award from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, and later that year the Rich family was honored by the American Heart Association.

He was married for 58 years to Jean Annabelle Hopkins, who survives him, along with his six children, Lisa Rich Coats of Palm City, Florida, Laura Rowland of Darien, Susan Rich Mailman of Stamford, F. D. Rich III of New Canaan, Robin Fulton of Hilton Head, SC, and Charles Rich of Suwannee, GA, and thirteen grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Robert N. Rich of Stamford, nephews Christopher Rich of Salem, VA, Thomas L. Rich of Stamford, and nieces Priscilla Rich of Boone, NC, and Martha Andrus of Boulder, CO. His niece, Amy L. Rich predeceased him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT.

Burial will follow in Fairfield Memorial Park in Stamford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in the name of Frank D. Rich, Jr. to the Stamford Health Foundation, Nine West Broad St., Stamford, CT 06902 or to American Parkinson's Disease Association, CT Chapter, 27 Allendale Rd., North Haven, CT 06473.