Richard Martin Bates Sr.

On Thursday, December 31, 2020, Richard Bates, loving husband and father, passed away from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 70. Richard was born on September 2, 1950 in Washington, D.C. to Can and Sylvia Bates. He married fellow Capitol Hill staffer, Rose Bates, on June 10, 1978 – his best friend and the love of his life. After working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee under the tutelage of friend and mentor Rep. Beryl Anthony, Richard devoted the last 30 years of his life serving as Sr. VP of the Walt Disney Company. He cherished his job and his coworkers, taking great pride in their many accomplishments together. Richard was passionate about a wide range of subjects, from Civil War history and 1960’s counterculture to North Carolina Tar Heels basketball and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He was an avid record collector with similarly eclectic taste in music, from Gram Parsons and Lou Reed to Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. But above all else, Richard was known for his generous heart and uniquely magnetic personality that lit up a room like a lava lamp. Success never changed him, and he treated everyone with dignity and respect as long as they weren’t Duke University basketball fans. Richard is survived by his wife, Rose; two sons, Ricky (Noelle) and Chris; brother, Robert (Judith); and canine-granddaughter, Betty, along with numerous other special relatives. Services will be held at a future date, TBA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Music Health Alliance, a non-profit organization providing musicians with health care assistance and advocacy. www.musichealthalliance.com