From Tom Bohn, former Dean of the Park School
I just learned of the passing of Gloria Richards and want to take a moment of your time to reflect on her wonderful life and legacy. Gloria passed away on March 11, 2023 at the age of 98.
Gloria served as Assistant Dean in the School of Communications over a 15-year period from around 1977 until her retirement in 1991. She was Acting Dean from 1979-80.
She welcomed me into the Dean’s Office in 1980 with open arms, an open mind and most importantly an open heart. She was thoughtful, helpful, gracious, and meticulous, just to name a few salutatory adjectives. She was known to generations of School of Communications’ students as a welcoming and helpful collaborator in their journey through the College and the School. She was always available, night and day; and always insisted on making the 40-mile trip back to her beloved home in Pine City, NY every night—despite my exhortations to stay in a hotel.
She was the ultimate people and paper administrator—one who kept the trains running on time but who always had time for students and faculty. Her office door was always open and, despite the overwhelming and sometimes intimidating pile of paper on her desk, she always found the time to solve problems, answer questions, write recommendations, and bandage a skinned knee, dry a stray tear and soothe a bruised ego. She was a true partner who always gave me straight answers, raised important questions, and definitely cleaned up the messes that I occasionally created.
Gloria lived a life of service—to her family, her friends, her colleagues, and to the students and faculty in Park. She is remembered by so many alumni as the heart and soul of the School. For me, personally, she was a trusted colleague and a good friend; someone I could always talk to about the trials and joys of the day.
Her elegant obituary in The Ithaca Journal written by her son, Mark, describes her wonderful life in exquisite detail. She was a remarkable person who led a life that truly mattered. I shall miss her dearly and remember her always.