RICHARD HARRISON GWINN

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Haverford School University of Pennsylvania Yale University

RICHARD GWINN Obituary

Name: Memorial service for RICHARD HARRISON GWINN
Start: 2016-06-23T19:00:00.000Z
Location: St. Martins Church

GWINN

RICHARD HARRISON, 77, of Philadelphia and Vero Beach, died February 27, 2016, in Vero Beach with his family by his side. He is survived by wife Brita; sons Christian, Ryder and David; grandchildren, Louis, Claudia, Madison, Cate, Ryder, Jr., Rowyn and Piper. His only daughter Elizabeth died in 1989 of Cystic Fibrosis.
He grew up in Gladwyne PA, with siblings, John Gwinn, Nancy Huggins and Martha Gwinn. Dick attended the Haverford School and later was a graduated from St. George's School and Yale University, 1960. At Yale, he was a member of Fence Club. Having joined the NROTC program in 1956, he saw active service in the Navy between 1960-1963, acquiring a love of the sea and sailing. He attended the Wharton School before joining Pennbrook Foods in 1964, becoming its CEO in 1972 and acquiring Abbotts Dairies in 1981.
He served on the Board of Governors of Hahnemann Hospital, the ECRI Institute and many other Philadelphia boards. He offered his time, energy and experience to the Citizens Democracy Corps and USAID and took real delight and sustenance from his friends, his Forum Group and colleagues at the YPO. Whether golfing, fishing, riding his bike or captaining his boat Shadowfax, he revered the solitude and cherished the camaraderie of being with friends and family.
The birth of his daughter Elizabeth with Cystic Fibrosis was as challenging as it was transforming. He dedicated himself to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and was a tireless National Trustee.
He was a member of Gulph Mills GC, Racquet Club of Philadelphia, Pine Valley GC, Corinthian Yacht Club and Riomar Country Club.
As his classmates wrote in the St. George's yearbook said, "Dick will always be remember-ed as the one to whom anybody could talk to in confidence; he left us with the feeling that if everyone were as civil and tact-ful as Dick, there would be no more strife". He was a good man.
Any donations in his name, please consider Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Vero Beach VNA Hospice House.
His Memorial Service will be at St. Martins Church, 400 King of Prussia Rd, Radnor PA, 19087, at 3:00 P.M., June 23, 2016.
Anyone wishing to share memories or photos of Richard Gwinn, please join us on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/494146507453154/requests/?notif_t=group_r2j

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on Mar. 13, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD GWINN

4 Entries

Tony Vincent

March 24, 2016

I knew Dick from our teens, and for over sixty years, we always kept somehow in touch sharing so many special times together just hanging out. He never gave up trying to correct my erratic golf swing and surviving decades of Vermont trail skiing - which was our relentless mutual passion. Over all those years never once did I see Dick ever out of character. Besides being an ever- perfect friend, Dick was also a great counsellor and role model who will never be forgotten. We all lost a hero.
I think of him every day and thank him for all the wisdom and friendship he generously gave to all who were lucky enough to be in his company.

Jeffrey Lerner

March 15, 2016

Dick was a trustee of ECRI Institute. He played a critical role in our history, centering on the transition to the current management in 2000-2001. He was a leader. It is hard to imagine how or whether that change would have occurred, were it not for his activism, strategic intelligence and commitment to our institute.

March 14, 2016

My condolences to the family on the passing of a wonderful man. We served together on the CF Services Board ; Brita Rich and I were linked by their family's tragic connection to CF and my involvement in CF care. With sincere sympathy
Daniel Schidlow,MD

Jon Graves

March 13, 2016

I always looked forward to going over to the Gwinns' house in St. Davids, which I did countless times during a 4-year period before my buddy Christian left The Haverford School to attend St. George's in Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Gwinn were a dashing and fun couple. They always welcomed me warmly into their home. I remember having extended conversations with Mr. Gwinn about his business, Philadelphia sports teams, and the latest goings on at The Haverford School. I was just a kid, but Mr. Gwinn was interested in what I had to say. When he arranged for me and Christian to get a tour of the Spectrum and meet with Ed Snider, the owner of the Flyers, Mr. Gwinn rose to rock star status in my world. After Christian left Haverford, I didn't have occasion to return to their home until about 10 years later, when I went to pay my respects after Elizabeth's passing. They always demonstrated incredible grace and resolve as their adorable little girl lived with a horrible disease. More years flew by. In 1996, I was in Arizona for a vacation with my very pregnant wife and our 2 year-old son. As I walked through the lobby of our hotel, I noticed an unmistakable couple at the check-in desk. I stunned Mr. and Mrs. Gwinn as I said from behind them, "You never know who you may run into at the Westin La Paloma." Mr. Gwinn insisted that I play a round of golf with him the next day. We had a great time, even though he was the far superior player. That was the last time I saw him. It was a real treat to have that day with Mr. Gwinn as an adult after spending so much time at his house when I was 11-14 years old.

RIP, Mr. Gwinn.

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