DR. TIMOTHY ALBERT BURTON RICHARDS 1946-2014 It is with great sadness that the family of Timothy Albert Burton Richards announces his passing on May 14, 2014 at the Kansas City Hospice. Tim was born February 9, 1946 in Bristol, England, only child of Millicent Grace Richards and Albert Frederick Burton Richards, M.C. Tim is survived by his wife, Judith Richards, children Joanna Catherine Urrutia Richards (Juan Pablo Urrutia), Nathaniel A. B. Richards (Areli Gutierrez), Josephine Kate Kurz, and four grandchildren, Emma Urrutia, Nigel Richards, Madeline and Claire Kurz, and our caring friend of twelve years, Iris Vallecillo. Tim attended Cheam Church of England School for Boys in Surrey and later Monmouth School in Wales, where he was a champion swimmer and exceptional rugby player and cricketer. He earned a B.A. in Spanish at Bristol University, M.A. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (where he met future wife Judith) and PhD. at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1980. After graduating he became Director of the University of Colorado's Study Abroad Program in Xalapa, Mexico from 1979-1981. In Fall 1981 Tim joined the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Missouri Kansas City, where he became Professor of Spanish and later Professor Emeritus of Spanish in 2003. While at UMKC he arranged summer study abroad programs that included trips to archeological sites in Mexico and Central America, a passion he shared with many students over the years. Tim's other passion was the British football team Arsenal, that last Saturday won the esteemed Football Association Cup. How he would have enjoyed that! In February 1999 Tim suffered a traumatic head injury that left him paralyzed and "locked-in," only able to "speak" with his eyes. The bravery, patience and resolve that Tim and Judith exhibited in his battle to survive and to enjoy their life to the full with family and friends were exemplary beyond measure and afforded those who loved Tim precious additional time together with him. Tim will be remembered for his immense generosity of spirit and selfless commitment to those whom he knew in both a professional and a personal capacity. His love of learning, coupled with a witty and penetrating sense of humor, made him an outstanding friend, colleague and professor whose teaching had an impact on so many around him. His love for and dedication to his family was incomparable. A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Tim Richards will be held at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Broadway and 14th Street, May 24, 11:00 a.m. Instead of flowers the family would appreciate a donation to UMKC Tim Richards Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Karen English in University Advancement. (Arrangements: Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri, 8837 Roe, Prairie Village, KS 66207; 913-383- 9888) C

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Published by Kansas City Star on May 21, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for TIMOTHY RICHARDS

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11 Entries

David Evans

May 15, 2020

Tim remains forever in my heart as a true friend and inspiration. My love to Judy and family.

David Evans

May 15, 2019

Tim was one of the finest, nicest people I have ever met. At Monmouth School we became great friends and whilst our careers took us in different directions, we rekindled our close friendship when Tim came back to Britain from the US with his bride-to-be Judy. He paid me the huge compliment of being his best man. Despite the geographical distance between us, he was frequently in my thoughts and we kept in touch until, unknown to me, tragedy struck and we lost contact. It was only last year that I learnt, by chance and with extreme sadness, of his passing. I will have the fondest memories of Tim for the rest of my days.

November 6, 2017

November 6th 2017

I have only just learnt of Tim's passing and received the news with shock and great sadness. We were close friends at Monmouth School and I had the privilege of being Tim's best man when he and Judy were married at Ross. While they remained in the UK, my wife Sue and I spent many happy hours in their company, and when they returned to the States we kept in correspondence. We lost touch at the end of the 90s and I obviously now know why. I want to send love to Judy and her family and, if she receives this message, to ask if she would like to make contact. My email address is [email protected]

October 30, 2017

Below is a message I put on a Facebook page for the community of Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, UK where Tim lived for many years before eventually moving to the USA.
I hope Judith Richards will get the chance to read it. Anke and I would love to come into contact with Judith. Our email address is [email protected].
Here is the Facebook message:
I'm sure that a number of readers of this site will remember Tim Richards. Tim was a pupil at Monmouth School (like myself) and lived in Merrivale Crescent. We became close friends and shared many a fun moment in Ross during our teenager years along with his many friends in town.
We continued to meet up after we had both left school and before we both left the UK. The bar of the Swan Hotel was a frequent meeting place and that's where I got to know his Spanish friends Antonio and Casto. It was they who introduced me to Anke who was working at the Royal Hotel. Anke and I got married in Ross in 1969.
I was shocked when, looking on internet for news of Tim, I came across his obituary on the American Legacy' site. It gives a detailed account of his life, particularly of the many years he lived and worked in the USA. It's there that he met Judith, his future wife (they got married at Ross Parish Church), and pursued his academic career as professor of Spanish.
The obituary tells of how, in February 1999, Tim suffered a traumatic head injury that left him paralysed and "locked-in," only able to "speak" with his eyes. He died in May 2014.
I last met in 1993 when Tim came to Ross around Christmas time to stay with his parents for a few days. After that, we sent each other an occasional email for a few years, but then he stopped corresponding. Now I know why. So sad. '
- Roger Price, Maarssen, The Netherlands

Judy Horton

August 4, 2016

Tim and I were colleagues at the University of Colorado in grad school Our families were close. I only just learned of his trials and his death. My best to Judy and the family.

Timothy Cornelius

October 30, 2014

Reading the Coloradan I noticed that Tim Richards has passed away. I have many fond memories of Tim and his family as I was a CU student in Xalapa in 1980. Tim always knew how to manage the most difficult situations that we students often found ourselves in whether in Xalapa, Vera Cruz Mexico DF, Oaxaca or the Yucatan. Tim was an amazing man; a positive influence on US students learning about the real Mexico.
My condolences to his family.

Ruth Crispin

October 9, 2014

I was in Tim's NEH summer seminar in Detroit decades ago. He was warm, kind, smart, perceptive and incredibly witty. It is hard to imagine him so confined for so many years, as it must have been hard for all his family, but surely you had the joy of being that--his wife, his children; and I hope the memories of a happy past bring solace.

Martin Evans

June 5, 2014

Tim was a great inspiration and a constant source of fun to his friends at Bristol University all those years ago. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. A very sad loss for all of us who knew him.

May 25, 2014

Judith and family, we were very sad to hear this news from a friend today and were sorry to have missed the funeral. We will always remember Tim's warmth and humor. Gretchen Green and Dave Cozad

Lynne Margolies

May 21, 2014

I am so very sorry for your loss. I hope you are comforted in some part by your memories and in knowing that Tim will be remembered with love and admiration by so many people. I am one of them. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

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