Necrology
Richard Ansel Dobbs ’6 Dobbs '64
Apr. 3, 1942-Feb. 22, 2021
The only thing that Richard Ansel Dobbs ’64 relished more than meandering through the meadows of New Jersey and the marshes of Delaware and Maryland hunting ducks was sharing his expertise so that others, especially younger generations, could do the same.
An avid outdoorsman who enjoyed a long career in banking, Dobbs was born in Upper Montclair, N.J., on April 3, 1942, to Christine and Herbert Dobbs, an engineer. When he was 3, the family moved to Wilmington, Del., where he attended Tower Hill School before coming to Hamilton.
On College Hill, Dobbs joined Theta Delta Chi fraternity, serving as house manager for three years, and focused his studies in economics and art. One year after graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Yolande Brown. He also embarked on what would be a 49-year career at Wilmington Trust, at one point serving as vice president in charge of the employee benefits division.
Dobbs, who died on Feb. 22, 2021, at the age of 78, left a lasting legacy in his community. He was a 38-year member of the Aurora Gun Club, where he was an accomplished trap shooter and key contributor to the camaraderie of the membership, a published obituary said. In 1965, he joined Ducks Unlimited, where he was instrumental in fundraising for the preservation of wildlife habitat. He enjoyed hunting, trap and skeet shooting, decoy carving, and fishing.
Like his mother before him, he was active on the board of Children’s Beach House, a not-for-profit that serves children with special needs, from 1973 to 2015. During this time, he oversaw the successful completion of a capital campaign for a new building in less than one year. In addition, his passion for the outdoors and art combined to help create Plein Air Brandywine Valley, a successful annual fundraising event for Children’s Beach House.
He was also a member of the Wilmington Club, Vicmead Hunt Club, and Bidermann Golf Club, where he cherished spending time with family and friends.
“… Dick never met a stranger and loved bringing people together,” the obituary said. “Dick also served as the erstwhile spiritual advisor for his younger friends, earning him the title of the Reverend Doctor.”
Survivors include his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren, among others
