Richard Anthony Hibey

1941 - 2024

Richard A. Hibey "Dick" of Washington, DC passed away peacefully on February 19, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving family. Dick is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ellen; his younger sister Nancy Hezel; younger brothers Joseph and James Hibey; his two sons David (Tara Roque) and Justin (Corinne Niosi); and three grandchildren: Luke, Clementine, and Lily.
Born in Utica, New York in 1941 to first generation Lebanese immigrants (Delia and Anthony), Dick loved school from an early age and eventually understood that education could not only expand his mind, but also his opportunities. In high school, Dick won multiple New York state elocution contests, which awarded scholarship money that effectively allowed him to enroll at LeMoyne College, a Jesuit college located in Syracuse, NY. Imbued with the rigorous pursuit of knowledge and devotion to others that are hallmarks of a Jesuit education, Dick would eventually serve on the Board of Trustees at LeMoyne as well as at Georgetown Prep.
Dick enrolled in the Georgetown University Law Center in 1962. At the urging of law school dean Ken Pye, the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program accepted Dick into its post-graduate program, which provided (and continues to provide) legal representation to adults and adolescents accused of crimes who otherwise might be unable to retain first-rate counsel.
Comfortable with speaking publicly, meticulous in preparation, and competitive in nature, Dick embarked on a more than 50-year career in courtrooms throughout the United States and the world. He represented indigent defendants as an attorney at Legal Aid, the United States as an Assistant United States Attorney, and high-profile individuals and companies as a law firm partner in private practice. The variety of matters Dick tried before a jury is staggering. More than 120 times Dick presented cases to juries in matters ranging from murder to public corruption to lying to Congress.
Like most successful trial lawyers, Dick was a gifted and serial storyteller albeit one prone to extended pauses; yet, he endeared himself to many by being a selfless and active listener. He mentored dozens of attorneys on how to be zealous advocates and stewards of the profession. Indeed, one former colleague observing Dick's mentoring once queried, "How many lawyers has Dick raised?"
Although Dick earned professional respect and prominence as a trial lawyer, including election into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, Dick's loyalty and love for family, friends, and colleagues will remain his most enduring legacy. Whether learning the facts of a case, helping a friend or family member, or exploring his faith, Dick remained present receiving information so that he could be focused on understanding and responding with care and purpose.
Dick's judgment as a lawyer was only exceeded by his judgment in marrying his beloved Mary Ellen. For more than 55 years, Dick and Mary Ellen blessed each other with love and companionship. Together, Dick and Mary Ellen opened their home to a diverse set of friends and welcomed their sons' friends even when David and Justin were not around. Their mutual devotion and bond grew even tighter in the last years of Dick's life as Dick's body started to falter. Together, Dick and Mary Ellen shone as an example of unqualified love and an inspiration for their children and grandchildren to follow.
A visitation will be held on March 15, at 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, MD. A funeral mass will be said at Our Lady of Mercy at 1 p.m. on Saturday March 16. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation in Dick's name to support Education and Opportunities for Lebanon (www.edopleb.org) through the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).