Richard N. Burch ’57

Richard N. Burch ’57 passed away peacefully on January 12. Dick graduated from St. Paul’s School in Garden City, New York. He attended Tuck School and was in Phi Delta Theta and Army ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a second lieutenant. In 1961 he earned an M.B.A. from New York University. Dick commuted from Old Greenwich, Connecticut, to Manhattan for nearly 40 years as a copywriter for McGraw-Hill and then as director of education at Newsweek magazine. He was editor and publisher of Newsweek College Digest, an editorial supplement for college students, and wrote, produced, and edited award-winning educational publications and videos. In 1996, as a prelude to retirement, he earned an M.A. in American studies from Columbia University. Retiring the next year, he went on to serve as a professor of business ethics at Fairfield (Connecticut) University. The common thread through his business and academic career was his belief that students are the future and informing and teaching them is very important. Dick’s family remembers his affinity for paper copies of The New York Times Sunday edition and its challenging crossword, UConn basketball, and his dog Belle. Despite impressive credentials, Dick “remained humble. His witty remarks and perfect timing endeared him to everyone he met.” Dick is survived by Suzanne, his wife of 64 years, daughters Alison and Sarah, and five grandchildren.