Richard Teitz

1942 - 2017

Richard Stuart Teitz, 74

San Antonio, TX - Richard Stuart Teitz, 74, San Antonio, Texas on June 19, 2017. Born, July 18, 1942 in Fall River, Massachusetts and raised in Newport, Rhode Island.

Richard was a 1959 graduate of Rogers High School in Newport, received his Bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1963, and received an M.A. from Harvard University where he did work in Art History and an M.P.A from UT San Antonio. He spent more than 30 years in museum administration, including as Director of the Worcester Art Museum, the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, and the Denver Art Museum. He later settled in San Antonio, Texas, where he was the first professional Director of the Alamo, and later The Director of Institutional Advancement at St. Philips College in San Antonio. He was a strategic consultant, restaurant reviewer, running coach, gallery director, and recently a painter himself. At age 65, when many people retire to a life of leisure, Richard realized a long-delayed dream of joining the Peace Corps, where he volunteered in Panama. Later, he helped many non-profits organize and obtain grant funding. He loved working with USAID on projects in Africa and Georgia (formerly part of the USSR). He particularly enjoyed substitute teaching at Keystone School and interviewing local high school applicants to Yale.

Richard started running in his thirties to prepare for a climb to the base camp of Mount Everest, and went on to run 173 marathons, including Boston, New York, and Capetown, South Africa. He coached many Team In Training participants and enjoyed continuing to win races in his age group. He came to New York to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer with "Team Teitz" in 2010 with his two daughters, son-in-law Travis, sister Alexis and friends. In 2011, he completed a sail across the Atlantic to the Azores of Portugal with his sister Louise Ellen Teitz and friends. He loved to travel and went so many places.

Richard was predeceased by his parents, Lucille Feinstein Teitz and Alexander George Teitz, and sister Alexis Dale Teitz. He is survived by his children Rebecca Ackerman, Jessica and son-in-law Travis Becker, and Alexander Teitz, beloved grandsons Joshua and Daniel Ackerman and Zachary and Samuel Becker; sister Louise Ellen Teitz, brother Andrew and sister-in-law Lois Teitz, and their daughters, beloved nieces Elizabeth and Alexandra Teitz. He also leaves with love his partner Ellen Spangler, her daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Bryan Taylor, and their son Jackson Taylor.

A celebration of Richard's life will be held in the Leeper Auditorium at The McNay, 600 N New Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM on August 13, 2017. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Keystone School in San Antonio and The Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts.