In Memoriam: Marc J. Richards

Marc Richards passed away April 9, after a heroic and short battle with cancer. Marc maintained his sense of humanity, love of nature and humor to the end. He was a devoted friend to many, with numerous close bonds spanning decades. Born in Attleboro, MA in June 1949, Marc moved west in 1967 to attend the University of California at Davis, where he was active in student government and anti-war activities. His dedication to serving others was embodied in his service as a resident advisor at U.C. Davis; in co-founding Diogenes House, a community-supported agency serving youth in Yolo County, Calif.; and in his work as a residential counselor at Clearwater Ranch in Philo, California. He worked on Bainbridge Island for 12 years as a carpenter and general contractor. Marc returned to UC Davis to complete his undergraduate and masters degrees. In 1998, he received his doctorate degree focusing on modern US History. With great love and respect for his students, Marc taught US history at Western Washington University for 15 years. Marc will be remembered for his great heart, his uncanny insight into other's feelings, his devotion as a friend, his intellectual curiosity, his adventurous spirit, his wacky sense of humor that so reliably lifted spirits, his love of teaching, and his loyalty to the Red Sox. He was an inspiration for lives lived with intention and with meaning. He will be sorely missed by his wife of 38 years, Leigh Ann Giles, by their daughter Ala MacKenzie Giles-Richards, by his siblings Gary, Gail, Myra, Stacey, Kyle, Lisa and Kelly, by his many nieces and nephews, and by the innumerable friends and acquaintances who benefited from his generosity and affection. For a more complete story about Marc, please see http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marcrichards

(Published in the Bellingham Herald on April 14, 2013.)