Richard S. Dewey
Photo taken for The Granite yearbook in 1958.
Richard S. Dewey, UNH professor emeritus of sociology, passed away on December 17, 2015. Professor Dewey earned an A.B. at the College of Wooster in 1936, an M.A. at Oberlin College in 1939, and a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1941. He worked as an instructor of sociology for the next five years, first at Butler University, then at Lawrence College, and finally at Aurora College. He joined the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1946, where he remained for 12 years, advancing to the rank of professor. He joined the UNH faculty as a full professor in 1958, serving as chair of the sociology department for six years. He retired in 1978. “Professor Dewey believed strongly in the value of the sociological imagination to higher learning," said John T. Kirkpatrick, vice provost for student life and dean of students, who was a sociology graduate student during Professor Dewey's first years at UNH.
Obituary
Richard “Dick” Sanford Dewey, 103 years old, of St Petersburg, FL (formerly Durham, NH), died on December 17, 2015.
Born in 1912, when a stamp cost 2 cents, a movie, 5 cents, and gas, 7 cents/gallon; when you could buy marijuana, heroin, and morphine over the counter; when top hats and corsets were the thing; when there were no phones, but Model T’s were the hottest thing to own and zippers were yet to be invented, Dick came softly into this world. The story holds that he didn’t utter a word until he was 3 years old, and for a time, he stuttered until he didn’t and then you couldn’t shut him up! He outlived his 5 siblings: Raymond, Alton, Beatrice, Nathalie, Georgia, but they would all say he was always an overachiever and often referred to him as “angel brother,” who could do no wrong.
Words/wisdom would become his career. He pursued a career in sociology, first as a city planner in Milwaukee, WI, and then concentrating solely on becoming a full tenured professor in sociology and social psychology. He received his B.A. degree from the College of Wooster in 1936, his M.A. from Oberlin College in 1939, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1946. He taught at the University of Illinois for 12 years until moving to Durham, NH in 1958 to accept the position of Chair of the Sociology Department at the University of New Hampshire, where he remained for the next 20 years. He authored three books: "An Introduction to Social Psychology," "The Development of Human Behavior," and "Feudalism on Campus."
He married Beatrice Eddington Hannah on September 8, 1937 and they were together until her death in 1996. Together they raised four children, Keith Dewey, spouse Julie, of Cleveland, Ohio; Marilyn Dewey of St. Petersburg, FL, Gwen Dewey of Dunedin, FL, and Elaine Dewey O’Malley, spouse Brian, of Charlotte, NC. Providing the children with a near idyllic childhood, living on Packers Falls Road (Durham, NH), overlooking the Lamprey River, Dick taught them how to swim in the summers and ice skate in the winters. The children report that they never saw them fight. One or the other would end up laughing. Dick and Bea had 5 grandchildren: Gwen’s sons, Derek Simpson of Lowell, MA and Mark Simpson of Ellenburg Ctr, NY; Elaine and Brian’s children, Mike O’Malley of Brooklyn, NY, Megan O’Malley of Park City, Utah, and Devin O’Malley of Boston, MA.
He was a Renaissance Man, well versed in many fields, and having a particular fondness for Classic/Antique Cars, once owning 8 at one time. His favorite was his 1932 Packard, with whom Bea used to refer to as his blonde mistress, because of the time he spent on making “her” a showpiece.
In retirement Dick and Bea turned their family home, built in 1766, into a bed and breakfast, which was its original intent. They named it Hannah House and it ran for several years, a favorite spot for many to return to year after year. While Bea ran it, Dick identified himself as the janitor and maintenance guy.
Dick was revered by many; reviled by a few. He always fought for the underdog and pushed to educate anyone who would listen about the difference between right and wrong. He was never afraid to stand up for what he believed, having eggs thrown at him as he marched against the Vietnam War or for Civil Rights. Some of his favorite quotes: “If you know what’s right, you’ll do what’s right.” “I stopped believing in God when I learned how to read.” “No one can be anything else, but what they are right now.” “Never lie to your children.” (which includes telling them there’s a Santa Claus.) “You will never get angry if you understand the situation.” “Anger plays no useful part in one’s life.” And his favorite discussion tool was to open with the question, “What is your definition of Sociology?” He changed peoples’ lives and made an impact wherever he went.
He lived his final years in St Petersburg, FL with his oldest daughter, Marilyn. He died because his heart stopped, but it did him well for 103 years. He will be missed beyond comprehension, because for most that knew him, he’s just always been here, and it will be hard to imagine a world without him.
A Spring memorial service is being planned. Please send any correspondence to edew1@mac.com.
