Rye Country Day School mourns the loss of RCDS alumnus, parent, grandparent, and former Trustee Richard "Dick" Pinkham '63. Dick passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, October 19.

Photo: (Right) Dick and Anne Pinkham at RCDS Grandparents and Special Friends Day in 2017

Dick Pinkham, a lifelong Rye resident, was born on May 24, 1945, to Richard A.R. Pinkham and Mary Struthers Pinkham '34. Dick and his three siblings (Penny '60, David '66, and Betty '68) all attended Rye Country Day. His mother, who was also an RCDS alumna, was a member of the Board of Trustees for two decades. Fondly known as “Bunnie,” Mary Pinkham served as Board Vice President from 1955 to 1962 and as President from 1961 to 1969. In 1994, Bunnie received the W. Lee Pierson Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her lifelong involvement with RCDS. The Upper School’s Pinkham Building was built through the generosity of Dick’s parents and a beautiful portrait of Bunnie is displayed in the building’s main hall.

Dick shared his parents’ deep dedication to RCDS. When he attended the School, male students only matriculated through eighth grade (RCDS became coed through Grade 12 in 1964, six years after Dick graduated from eighth grade in 1958). Given his personal experience during the School’s evolution to a fully coed learning institution, Dick was was one of the early supporters of Annual Giving and set a precedent for his fellow male alumni to support the School. He continued to be a leader among his peers, enthusiastically encouraging their support in advance of Wildcat Weekend 2024.

Dick was a truly active and engaged RCDS alumnus and he too served on the Board of Trustees. In 2000, he received the W. Lee Pierson Distinguished Alumni Prize, which was established to recognize an individual whose generosity and service significantly bettered and strengthened society, and a graduate who demonstrated exemplary service to RCDS. In 2005, Dick was among the inaugural inductees into the RCDS Hall of Fame, as a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was proud to share Hall of Fame status with his then-late mother who was also a previous recipient of the same RCDS honor.

In addition to RCDS and academic excellence, Dick was passionate about sailing and golfing–he spent time on the water at American Yacht Club and on the green at the Apawamis Club. After graduating from the University of Denver, Dick embarked on a distinguished career in sports marketing, serving in leadership roles with major companies such as ABC, CBS, 21st Century Marketing, IMG, and ISC. A respected leader in his field and community, Dick always emphasized the value of an excellent education as offered by RCDS and the importance for sustaining and expanding its strength for generations to come.

As a father, Dick was proud to send his three children—Laurie '92 (George), Ricky '94 (Kim), and Mary '99 (James)—to his alma mater, RCDS. His eldest daughter, Laurie, was also a long-time employee in the Admissions Office and has recently returned to conduct interviews for the 2025-26 admissions cycle. Five of Dick’s nine grandchildren (Charlotte '22, George, Connor, Brennan, and Graham) also attended RCDS over the years.

The cornerstone of Dick’s life was his wife, Anne. They married in 1970 and together built a loving home in Rye, where they raised their three children. A family man through and through, Dick was especially proud and fond of his nine grandchildren (Charlotte, George, Reece, Maggie, Connor, Graham, Brennan, JP, and Lulu). He was also a devoted brother to David '66 (Deborah), Penny Janeway '60, and Betty Anderson '68 (Alan); a loving uncle to his nieces and nephews; a beloved in-law; and a lifelong loyal friend to many. 

Visitation will be Monday, October 21, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home in Rye, NY. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Resurrection Church on Tuesday, October 22.

In lieu of flowers, the Pinkham family has requested donations to Rye Country Day School to honor Dick’s lifelong work to encourage Annual Giving.

Rye Country Day will forever remember Dick’s leadership and dedication to our community. Though our community will feel his absence deeply, his legacy lives on in our school and in our hearts.

Read Dick Pinkham’s full remembrance online here.