Richard G. Woolworth Jr.

Richard G. Woolworth, Jr., 69, passed away suddenly as a result of an aortic dissection on December 6, 2021. No man was more loved, more faithful, kinder, or cared more for others, especially his family, his friends, his community, and every person he mentored. He led with his faith, stayed in touch with lifelong friends, and shared his gifts of hospitality and connecting people with one another.

Rick was a graduate of Lancaster Country Day School (PA), Groton School (MA), Dartmouth College (NH), and Stanford Business School (CA). He was a loyal employee of Morgan Stanley for 23 years followed by another ten years with Aetos Capital. His legacy is captured by what a young man who had never met Rick said upon meeting him, “Oh you’re the person behind the Woolworth rule: Do the right thing by the client.” That rule is the way Rick lived his life.

An excellent squash and tennis player in his younger years, golf became his passion and he delighted in coaching others. He had a gift for identifying the one change that would most help their swing.

Rick served as head of the leadership council of Trinity Church Greenwich from its inception in 1999 until 2009. He remained a steady, guiding presence in the community.

The final decade of Rick’s life was defined by his vision for and leadership of Telemachus Network, a non-profit organization he founded in 2011 to create intergenerational friendships between emerging and experienced leaders in both faith-based and secular contexts. His passion for mentoring reflected his lifelong mission to “grow fruit on other people’s trees.”

Rick is survived by his loving family: Jill Woolworth, his wife of 45 years, their three daughters, Jocelyn W. Mason, Virginia B. Woolsens, and Helen W. Brown, two sons-in-law, three grandchildren, his siblings, Andy B. Woolworth, Sally W. Lynch, and Lucy W. Lamphere, and his mother, Helen B. Woolworth. Rick died nine months to the day after his father, Richard G. Woolworth of Lancaster, PA, and Hobe Sound, FL.

Rick’s love of mentoring lives on in the thousands of people he touched personally and connected to others. The best gift you can give him is to carry on his legacy.

In lieu of flowers, Rick’s family asks that gifts in his memory be given to the two organizations that meant the most to him, Telemachus Network and Trinity Church Greenwich.

The Celebration of Life previously scheduled in December has been postponed to late spring or early summer. Date to be announced.