Obituary of Reuben Francis Richards
Reuben Francis Richards, age 95, passed away peacefully at his home in Bedminster, NJ on January 30, 2025 with his beloved wife of 71 years, Elizabeth Brady Richards, by his side. A 70-year resident of Bedminster, Reuben was born in New York City on August 15,1929 and grew up in Lawrence, NY and New York City attending St. Bernard’s School, The Fessenden School and then St. Mark’s School where he was Head Monitor of the Class of 1948 and captain of the crew and wrestling teams. In 1952, he graduated with a degree in History from Harvard College where he was a resident of Eliot House, a member of the men’s varsity heavyweight rowing team, and a member of the AD Club, The Harvard Lampoon, and The Hasty Pudding Club. While at Harvard, he was a midshipman in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Harvard left Reuben with a love of history and curiosity for the world which was evident throughout his life. From driving across the Sahara Desert in a Jeep in the early 1950’s to exploring the ocean depths in the Alvin submersible in the 2000’s, he had a passion for world exploration and adventure. While he was particularly drawn to Cape Cod, the Turks & Caicos, and childhood summers spent in Dublin, NH, there are few places in the world he didn’t visit in his lifetime.
After college, and fluent in Spanish, Reuben spent a year working in Madrid before embarking on a 30-year international career at Citibank, ultimately leading the bank’s World Corporation Group and overseeing operations in 110 countries during a time when Citibank was helping to structure the global post-war banking system. After Citibank, Reuben joined the board of Minorco (LUX), a publicly held global natural resources company as an Executive Director. Over the next 15 years he oversaw Minorco’s U.S. interests as Chairman of Hudson Bay Corporation and Terra Industries, Chairman and CEO of Minorco USA, and served on the boards of Engelhard Corp., Phibro-Salomon, and Santa Fe Energy Resources. He had long affiliations as a Director at publicly traded Ecolab, Inc. and the Potlatch Corporation, as well as serving as a long term advisor to the Oppenheimer family’s and Anglo-American Corp.’s extensive global holdings.
Outside of his long business career, Reuben had three great passions, golf, flying, and the oceans. He was an accomplished golfer with trophies from Somerset Hills, Newport, and Palmetto Country Clubs. From 100 yards in, he could beat his sons well into his 80’s. A passionate private pilot, Reuben spent most weekends flying, covering the East Coast and Caribbean on his many journeys to Cape Cod and the Turks & Caicos. He spent a great amount of time both on and below the sea either on his succession of boats: Pesca, Blue Pigeon, and Indigo, or below the sea as an early civilian SCUBA diver. His love of the sea led to a long involvement with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute as a Trustee, Chair of the Ocean Life Committee, and ultimately a Life Trustee. All of these pursuits were with his beloved wife Lisa. They were married for over 70 years, traveled the world together, and left a positive impact on everyone they encountered. Reuben will be remembered as a warm, wise, thoughtful, humble man with a great love of his family and community. He will be missed by all who have met him.
Reuben Francis Richards was the son of Junius Alexander Richards and Marie Renouard Thayer and predeceased by his brothers Alexander (Sandy) and Benjamin. He is survived by his wife Lisa, their three sons: Reuben Jr., Timothy, and Andrew; was a kind father-in-law to Michaela, Janet, and Cynthia, and a proud grandfather to Genevieve Krogius, Ben, Sam, Gus, and Eliot, and one great-grandchild, Tristan.
A memorial service will be held May 31, 11AM in the Hunt Room at the Essex Fox Hounds Stable in Peapack, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (whoi.edu), 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
