Kenneth E. Richie, M.S. '62, Ph.D. '66

---

Kenneth E. Richie, M.S. '62, Ph.D. '66, of Hanover, Minnesota, passed away April 1 at his winter retreat in Bentonville, Arizona. He was 86.

Born on May 15, 1938, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Richie is described as having "lived a life filled with intellect, passion, generosity and deep love for his family and community."

A lifelong athlete, Richie was passionate about martial arts and swimming, and was a collegiate athlete during his undergraduate years at Hamline University. After graduation, he moved his young family to California, earning his Ph.D. in physics at UCLA. Richie's professional career was marked by innovation and leadership. While living in Chicago, he worked at Continental Can, where he led a team that helped develop the base of plastic bottles, which is now ubiquitous.

He played an active role in founding the Hinsdale, Illinois, community center and children's swim team, fostering a legacy of community and youth engagement. The family later returned to Minnesota, settling in a beautiful lake home in Maple Grove where memories were made and dreams were nurtured. Richie served as vice president of marketing at Fingerhut Corporation, where he was instrumental in expanding the company’s direct-to-consumer reach, laying the groundwork for modern home shopping networks.

Read a full obituary here.