Chapter Eternal: Bruce A. Richardson ’55 and Henry “Hank” C. Kasson III ’62

It is with great sadness that we announce Bruce A. Richardson ’55 and Henry “Hank” C. Kasson III ’62 as entering Chapter Eternal. Our condolences go out to all family and friends. 

Read their entries in Kenyon’s seasonal alumni magazine here.

Bruce’s obituary courtesy of Legacy.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bruce Alden Richardson on April 27, 2022.

Bruce was born August 3, 1934 in Oakland, CA and grew up in Berkeley, CA in a 3-generational household which included his parents, John Alden and Marjorie (Locke) Richardson, younger sister, Joyce, and grandparents Leon and Maude Richardson. Bruce graduated from Berkeley High School in 1951.

He received a math scholarship to Kenyon College in Ohio, where he was president of his fraternity and a member of the championship swim team. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in Political Science and a minor in French in 1955.

After graduation he served 4 years in the Navy where he flew a carrier-based helicopter in Helicopter Squadron 4 (HSC-4) tasked with anti-submarine warfare objectives including the first squadron to be authorized to carry nuclear depth charges. He received a Silver “S” award from the Sikorsky Corporation for a sea rescue. He retired at the rank of Lt. Commander.

Bruce graduated third in his class from UC Berkeley’s School of Law (previously known as Boalt Hall) in 1962. He was an editor of the Law Review and was offered to clerk for Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg; but instead chose a quieter path and moved to Watsonville with his first wife, Berta (Bogan) Richardson whom he married in 1959.

In Watsonville he was reunited with his Aunt Florence (Richardson) Wyckoff and began his law practice working for his uncle, Hubert Wyckoff at the firm Wyckoff, Parker, Boyle and Pope (later Wyckoff, Richardson, Sanson, Allen and Locke Paddon).

In addition to serving as the firm’s managing partner he did a 12-year stint on the PVUSD School Board (including two terms as president), in which he was able to hand his 2 children their high school diplomas. He also served on the Water Board, and the boards of several local corporations and nonprofits. He was named “Man of the Year” in 1988 by the Watsonville Chamber of Commerce and in the 1990s was recognized for his pro-bono work.

He married his second wife, Diane (Pecchenino) Richardson in 1985, and after the closing of the law firm in 1996, they moved to Oregon. Throughout his life, Bruce enjoyed travel, golf, bridge and gardening.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Joyce Wilson and his niece, Martha Sparks. He leaves his wife, Diane, of Gresham, OR; as well as his daughter, Lisa Richardson of Los Gatos, CA; son and daughter-in-law Keith and Thresa Richardson (Powell) of Canyon Country, CA; along with grandchildren, Dr. Casey Richardson of Gunnison, CO and Cory Bowdish of Los Gatos, CA; step-grandchildren Shaina and Jordan Katz, as well as nieces and nephews.

His family, pets, and gardens remember his tender care. They are forever grateful and will miss and love
him forever.

Hank’s obituary courtesy of Dignity Memorial.

Born June 21, 1940, Hank was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Kenyon College, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Hank played baseball and ran cross country at Walnut Hills, participating in the Ohio state cross country championship in Columbus. At Kenyon, he played basketball (by his own admission, not very well) and was the Co-Editor of the college newspaper, the “Collegian.” He served as president of the Kenyon chapter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Later Hank was elected to and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review of the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Before law school, Hank enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended Officers’ Candidate School after which he spent 3 years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal as an air intercept controller. After attaining the rank of Lieutenant, he ended his service in 1965.

Once graduating from law school, Hank spent most of his legal career specializing in municipal finance, tax-exempt bond financing and banking at Cincinnati’s most prominent law firms.

In 1971, Hank lost a close election to serve as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Education. He ran again for that office and was elected in 1973 and again in 1977 becoming President of the Board (at that time being the youngest person to hold that office). During his tenure as President of the Board, the Cincinnati Public Schools were closed because of snow for the first time in 20 years, and the CPS District continued to successfully defend desegregation litigation initiated by the NAACP. The district also filed a lawsuit against the State of Ohio asserting that the State was failing to meet its constitutional duty to provide a “thorough and efficient” education system for Ohio’s children, and the District suffered through a 19 day teachers’ strike (during which time members of the American Federation of Teachers union picketed Hank’s personal home and he was hung in effigy on Fountain Square).

After his resignation from the Board of Education, Hank represented multiple clients including U.S. Bank (then Star Bank) in connection with the American Continental Corporation (Charlie Keating) bankruptcy in Phoenix, AZ and the development of a national municipal bond practice.

After 2000, Hank divided his time between Cincinnati and Montgomery, Alabama – in connection with business and family matters.

Hank is survived by his loving wife of too few years, Belle Nichols, by his wonderful and very successful daughter, Kim Kern, her husband Don, three beautiful grandchildren, Merrell Welage, Kealy Welage and Bryson Welage. Also, his loving sister, Cindy Kasson McIntyre of Dallas, TX. Hank was also blessed with two delightful and enterprising stepsons, Tom Walker (wife Jane Hoerner and grandson Thomas W. Walker, III. “Woods”) and R. B. Walker (wife Maeci Martin, grandson R. B.“Bo” Walker, Jr. , and granddaughter Georgia Walker).