Tributes to Richard Resch
Author: Richmond American University London
Respects and Tributes have been paid to our former Provost and Trustee Richard Resch, who passed away in August 2024.
I was so sad to hear the news. When Mark Toole and I worked at Richmond, we both found Richard had a sharp wit and a real concern for learners and his staff. Richard was very close to Mark who loved his conversations. I can always remember Mark laughing after trying to explain the vagaries of cricket to Richard and Walter. Mark always loved a joke. We also met Richard in Italy where he was clearly having a fab time. So many fond memories…
– Susi Peacock
During Richard’s 10 years at Richmond, I worked with him as his Assistant. A very happy time for me and I am grateful to him for helping me to understand the intricacies of the UK and US educational and accreditation systems, which guided me through my many years at the University. He and his family introduced me and my family to the delights of Thanksgiving which we were very happy to celebrate with the Resch family over the years. He was a lovely man who will be sorely missed.
– Annie Herring
I worked with Richard Resch throughout his time at Richmond and got to know him well, particularly during my years as Chair of Faculty. Richard was easy to approach, a sympathetic listener, a measured thinker and firm but fair decision maker. He was courteous, friendly and generous to those of us who worked with him, and was always supportive of academic innovation and the pursuit of excellence. His own work ethic was a model for those of who were in a position to observe it. Richard Resch was very committed to the University and one of Richmond’s gentlemen. He will be missed and remembered with respect and affection.
– John Dickerson
Richard was a perfect fit for Richmond at the time. His prior international experience in Brazil and the Virgin Islands, his US University managerial background and his and Cheryll’s love of travel and cultural exchange made him an exemplary senior administrator. In addition to his techie interests, he had a genuine global perspective, warmth, collegiality and a sincere commitment Richmond’s values and people. He was a very generous man who invited us to many memorable Thanksgivings and Seders, and above all was a wonderful family man, doting on his grandchildren and so proud of his son Aaron.
– Sara Chetin and Peter Leuner
Richard was an effective Academic Dean with significant international experience, a calm, friendly manner, a careful listener, and fair in his decision making. When he came back to London from AURome, he became actively involved with Richmond once again, reflecting his commitment. As a team, he and his wife Cheryll and son Aaron laid on fun, delicious, and memorable Thanksgiving dinners, which we enjoyed until relatively recently. I was so happy to see him and Cheryll in December at my retirement party and have very warm memories of him.
– Mary Robert
I’m sorry to hear of Richard’s passing. I have a limited memory of Richard’s tenure suffice it to say that whenever I had occasion to work with him he always provided a sympathetic and understanding ear. Richard was a keenly intelligent colleague who balanced the good of Richmond and was mindful to maintain high staff morale. He innately understood you could not achieve one without the other.
– John M. Pearson
My greatest memory of Fall term of 1999 when I first joined the University (besides meeting other colleagues) was going into the Executive area and speaking with the then President Walker McMann about the Boston Red Sox and Richard as the Provost as a NY Yankees supporter. Great discussions about baseball!!
– Bette Allen
Richard Resch was my immediate manager when I served as the International Internship Founder and Director from 1985 to 2001. For me, he was the kind of manager one always would like to have. He listened, questioned, assessed, commended, supported and allowed me professional freedom at every turn.
His standards were clear and high and I valued him enormously as a colleague and supporter. Although time has clouded memory a bit, I remember particular proof of his concern for and dedication to Richmond, its people and his staff being so evident than when his health needed serious attention. Even in emergency, he had made a plan that all who reported to him knew our roles and his expectations of us and the needs of the institution. We wished him well and the success of the surgery is proved by his professional longevity, although his recent passing has come much too soon.
I send my deepest sympathies to his son Aaron along with the reminder that his father was much valued by many people for his dedication, loyalty, professionalism and decency. Richmond was much the better university for his service with us.
– Deirdre Simpson
I remember Richard as a warm person, with a good sense of humour, and most importantly, as a manager to whom one could talk.
– Michele Cohen
Richard was a benign and supportive Provost who encouraged his faculty to do their best.
– Alice Tomic
Richard and I were good colleagues and I do know one thing for certain…he lived a very successful and satisfying life. He will always remind me of someone who is, what I call, ‘grounded’. In other words, a person who is stable, content and satisfied with life. Rest in peace, Richard.
– Jonn O’Connell
Kind, supportive and calmly professional, Richard was a key member of the senior management team at Richmond for many years. Whenever one met Richard, you would be greeted by his characteristic gentle smile and his friendly conversation. He was deeply committed to Richmond’s mission and will be greatly missed by all those who worked with him.
– Alex Seago
I was extremely sorry to learn of Dr Richard Resch’s passing in August 2024. Richard was Provost and Senior Vice-President at Richmond from August 1992 for a period spanning around 10 years. My memory is not what it used to be but I now think I first met Richard in late March 1992 on a visit I had made to New York City to present at a conference there. I remember during a quiet period at my conference visiting him at his office at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY). We spoke for a while in his office in the College of Engineering I believe. He then treated me to some coffee and nice pastry in the cafeteria where we continued to talk about New York City, about London, about Richmond and about all manner of things relating to all three. Richard and I got on very well straightaway. Richard never beat about the bush; he was always direct and completely clear in communicating what he felt needed saying. I found working for him and with him incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. I believe it would be fair to say that he had developed an undeserved reputation amongst some faculty and staff for being a tough university administrator. To me, however, he always seemed fair and balanced with his decision making, and with his judgments. I think some colleagues mistook his desire to be fully appraised of the detail associated with any request taken to him as a sign of him wanting to be obstructive. Knowing Richard as well as I did, I know nothing could have been further from the truth. It is true that he was incredibly ambitious for the University and his desire to push for better and more was not always welcome by everyone.
I was fortunate enough in meeting his dear wife Cheryll on a number of occasions too. I always found her to be charming and kind and am very sorry to learn her health deteriorated in later life. I didn’t meet his son, Aaron, or the grandchildren, but would like to wish them, and Cheryll, the warmest good wishes and the deepest of condolences.
Personally, I will always remain grateful for his unwavering support and advice when the time came for me to leave the University for a position overseas for a couple of years. I do sincerely believe that the University ended up in a far better place because of Richard’s leadership and oversight. For example, his leadership was instrumental in the University working in partnership with the Open University’s Validation Services for many years. This relationship paved the way for degree awarding powers several years later.
I remember Richard continuing to work with the University on an ad hoc basis for some years after his departure and it was always a delight to see him, or hear from him during this period.
Rest in peace, Richard.
– Parviz Dabir-Alai
