Dr. Philip Henry Richard Jr. of East Lansing, MI died on 11/28/2015 at the age of 62 in Bavaro, DO while traveling with family and friends. Born in Pawtucket R.I. in 1953, the son of the late Philip H. and Ida M. (O’Halloran) Richard, Phil moved to Jamestown R.I. in1954. He graduated from Rogers HS in Newport R.I. in 1971 then attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute receiving his Bachelor’s degree in 1975. After graduation he moved to East Lansing, MI and attended Michigan State University where he received his Masters and Doctorate in Statistics in1990. While at Michigan State he met his beloved late wife Katherine A. Trebilcott whom he married in 1988. His Doctoral Dissertation “Dilation of Operator Valued Measures in Banach Spaces and Harmonizable Banach Space Valued Processes” proved to be his first true academic challenge of which he was always immensely thankful to Kat, his wife, Ida, his mama, and Atma, his mentor, for supplying the support, encouragement and strength to allow him to overcome his emotional highs and lows. In 1984 he accepted a position at General Motors Institute, the now Kettering University, in Flint MI where he taught until retiring in 2012. In 2003 he received the Outstanding Teacher of The Year Award at Kettering. Surviving Philip is his brother, William Richard, of Jamestown R.I. Phil loved statistics, teaching, traveling, reminiscing about growing up in Jamestown in the 1960’s, and sports, especially his Michigan State Spartans and all professional teams from Detroit and Boston. He disliked pretension, ulterior motives, over-regulation, political correctness, and strong opinions based on weak facts. Honest, humorous, enigmatic and often intemperate, Phil never gladly suffered the fool, as any of his former students would attest. His eclectic array of friends and extended family were always trying to figure him out and will continue to do so.
In the last couple of years of his life Phil inspired and amazed many with his independence, determination and positive attitude despite having severe physical liabilities. May he rest in peace. Visitation will be from 4-6 pm with a rosary at 5:30 pm on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral home at 1730 E. Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI. A celebration of Phil’s life will immediately follow at The Coral Gables Restaurant at 2838 E. Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI. Another celebration of Phil’s life will be held in R.I. in the spring of 2016 at a yet to be determined time and place. Memorial Donations may be made to: Jamestown Education Foundation 77 Narragansett Ave.Jamestown, R.I. 02835 Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5