This month, Rick Richter, friend to many and official Camp Rising Sun historian, turns 90!

In 2018, alumna Sonia Wargacka interviewed Rick Richter in his home in Sleepy Hollow. Read about her visit and see the interview-video below!

Join Rick in celebrating his birthday by supporting CRS - make a donation to his birthday fundraiser by clicking the link at the bottom.

Read her remarks below and join Rick in celebrating his birthday by supporting CRS (link in the bottom)

Today, we would like to share with you an interview we had with Rick Richter (‘50-’53). We met up with Rick this past summer to find out more about why he stays involved in CRS and what advice he has for future applicants. You can view the interview in the video below. 

Rick has been part of the CRS community since 1950 when he first became a counselor. Over the years, Rick has stayed involved as a staff member, a visiting Instructor at Camp, and has volunteered to sit on various LAJF committees and the Board of Directors. Rick remains an active member of the Program Committee and Members Advisory Council (MAC). Furthermore, he has devoted his time to writing and updating a thorough compilation of our program’s history dating back to 1929. Not only is Rick an invaluable resource for questions about Camp’s history, he has also proved to be a devoted mentor to dozens of alumni over the years, eagerly providing advice on college admissions and other opportunities to help students achieve their academic and career potential. He’s a mentor to many, loves interacting with alumni, campers, staff, and friends of CRS, provides the community with annual updates about the ongoings of Camp and the Foundation, and graciously provides us with his thorough history of Camp Rising Sun.

Here’s what some of our alumni have to say about Rick:

“Rick has been my mentor and has shown me the value of intergenerational friendships, paying it forward and the commitment it takes to nourish and do one's part in fostering an institution from which we have benefited so much so that it can continue to serve others.” - Marlene Losier, ‘94

“I’ve gotten to know him better since joining the board, and reading his thorough history of Camp Rising Sun, and I’ll tell you this: Rick has a special way about him. It took me a while to recognize the extent of his generosity and amazing memory.” - Joseph Riddle ('88, '95, '97), Alumni Relations Committee Chair

“At Camp, [Rick] always found me when he visited, and took some time time to talk about the future- about schooling and careers. He was the first person in my life to talk to me about research and what it is all about. I’m proud to say that research is what I’m doing as part of my career today, and I’ll probably be doing it for a long, long time. It all started with [Rick].” - Harry Samaroo ‘00

We are thankful for Rick's continued support on various committees and the Board of Directors, through the meticulous documentation of our program's history, as a college and life mentor to countless alumni around the world, and a continued guest of honor and visiting instructor during the summer camp program. We hope to welcome Rick back to Camp once again this upcoming summer to share his knowledge and advice with the incoming group of 2018 campers.

Please take a moment to view our latest interview with Rick from LAJF Videography Fellow, Sonia Wargacka (‘10, ‘16, ‘17).

To celebrate Rick on his 90th Birthday, join him in supporting CRS by donating to his irthday campaign here.