Richard Quigley Whelan

1955 - 2021

Rick Whelan's memorial service, delayed by COVID-19, will be held on Sat. March 19th, 2022 at 11AM (EST) in the Chapel at The Episcopal Academy, 1785 Bishop White Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073, where masks will be required.

Remote attendance will be offered https://vimeo.com/event/298405/0e5401400e.

Richard Quigley Whelan, 65, of Merion Station, died March 19, 2021, from cancer. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Virginia (Gina) Jarvis Whelan, sons Denis (Cara Leidy) and Reid (Aleksandra Milinic), grandchildren Foster, David, and Adelaide, brothers Peter (Karen) Whelan II, Franklin (Catherine) Whelan, and paternal uncle Peter Whelan. He is also survived by Gina's siblings and 10 devoted nieces and nephews. Rick was predeceased by his son, Richard Quigley Whelan, Jr. and parents, Albert and Ida (Foster) Whelan. Rick was a maritime lawyer and a partner at Palmer Biezup & Henderson LLP for 39 years. His practice was as a litigator and trial defense attorney on behalf of ship owners and underwriters. One of his cases involved the Athos oil spill on the Delaware River. Rick worked on it for more than 15 years and it ultimately went before the US Supreme Court. An avid fly fisherman, voracious reader, and coach of two Lower Merion Soccer Club teams, Rick was generous with his many talents including providing sage counsel to family, friends, and his sons' college lacrosse teammates. Rick was a devoted husband and father who loved being with his family no matter where its members were or what the activity. Gina recalls, ""Rick often said he lived his own childhood all over again (""in a good way"") as we raised the boys. He loved teaching them to fish, find salamanders, catch crabs and minnows, sled, skate, boogie board, ride bikes, and go trick-or-treating strategically."" Born in Lock Haven, PA, Rick grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and spent summers at Long Beach Island. He was a Haven Beach lifeguard for six years which allowed him to stay fit for sports, rescue those unfamiliar with the rip tides of the Jersey shore and, when not on duty, surf. When he reached the eleventh grade, he transferred to The Episcopal Academy, which he said changed his life. Rick wrote, ""I was a good student in the top sections at my old school and got by with little or no homework. At EA, I was shocked by the following things: 1. the amount of homework and reading required; 2. pretty much everyone was there to learn, or you got kicked out; 3. it was cool, not looked down upon, to participate in drama, choir and art; 4. there were teachers and coaches who truly cared about you and making you a better student."" Talented, honest, and modest, Rick did not seek personal attention. As one of his teachers said, ""Rick always put the greater good of the group above his own personal gain"" and ""he was the nicest person you could ever meet."" Rick was also an exceptional athlete at The Episcopal Academy and played soccer, basketball, and ran track. He ran in the Penn Relays, he set an EA school record that still stands today: a 4:26 mile. EA's soccer team went undefeated for 35 games under Coach Curt Lauber, and also won the InterAc championship in 1972, but was denied a repeat victory in the so-called ""infamous"" 1973 Chestnut Hill Academy game. According to Lauber, ""Rick made those teams better with his intense competitiveness and deep commitment to the team's shared goals. Rick was loved by everyone he played with because having a good game meant nothing to Rick, if the team didn't win."" Following his 1974 graduation, Rick matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in American Civilization. With his shoulder-length blond hair and fleet footwork, Rick stood out on Penn's nationally ranked soccer team. Playing the wing position also brought him public recognition: the 1974 Arthur M. Binns Prize as Most Improved Player award, the MVP for his hat trick v Rutgers in 1976, and the honor as the second-highest scorer in 1977. Rick also claimed that soccer changed his life because if he hadn't gone to Penn to play soccer, he never would have met his future wife, Gina Jarvis. Gina was a Fine Arts major at Penn, and a varsity athlete on the field hockey and lacrosse teams. They were a perfect match. They married in July 1978 and moved to New Orleans so Rick could study maritime law at Tulane University. While he attended law school, Gina worked to support them as a production manager in an advertising agency. In 1981 the young couple returned to the Philadelphia area. Rick began his career in maritime law with Palmer Biezup & Henderson LLP, and they started their own family. Their lives centered around Ricky, Denis and Reid, their many interests, and thousands of school activities. Rick was always present at the boys' myriad events, quietly providing support, because he knew it was important to his sons. Rick once advised an audience that some of the most important conversations you can ever have with your child are when you are in the car, together, driving possibly to an insignificant destination. For Rick it was always about the journey. Rick shared his love of trout fishing with them, tied his own flies, and, together, explored all the best spots along the Tobyhanna River at Pocono Lake Preserve. Ever compliant, Rick observed all catch and release protocols. Other anglers read of Rick's prowess by the written comments he left in ""Record Your Catch"" logs. Rick's love and breadth of knowledge of soccer brought people together, as equals, no matter their age, nationality, station, or education. In all aspects of his life, Rick believed that treating people with dignity, respect, and kindness would bring out their best qualities. He loved being an involved, devoted father and Popi to his grandchildren, and a dear friend to many. Most of all, Rick loved his life with Gina.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Rick's name to: The Richard Q. Whelan, Jr. '00 Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Jen Fifer at The Episcopal Academy, 1785 Bishop White Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073, or the Ocean Conservancy https://bit.ly/3cZmPzu Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home Inc. www.chadwickmckinney.com