Deceased June 23, 2016
View alumni profile (log in required)
Read obituary
In Memory
Dick Tietjen was born Oct. 6, 1922, in Plainfield, N.J., and died June 23 in Old Saybrook, Conn.
Dick graduated from Plainfield High School in 1940 and joined Mack Truck Motors division, where he worked from 1940 to 1942. He enlisted in the naval aviation (V-5) program and was there from January 1943 through March 1944. He received his wings and commission in 1944 and was demobilized Dec. 13, 1945.
Dick entered Amherst in February 1946. He majored in languages and government and belonged to LJAC, the Flying Club and the Political Union.
While attending the first Institute on the U.N, in June and July 1948, at Mt. Holyoke, he met Louise McElroy (Smith ’48). They were married June 17, 1950.
Dick joined Pepsico International as a field rep in 1948 and then worked at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in sales in the school division from 1949 to 1988, when he retired. Dick served as chairman of the Old Saybrook Conservation Commission from 1966 to 1978 and as trustee of the Hammonasset School from 1979 to 1985.
Dick and Louise’s son, Richard ’74, a poet, died in 2009. As a memorial to him and all poets, they donated land they owned in Amherst to the Town of Amherst and dedicated a Poet’s Walk.
Dick is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Richard Smith) Tietjen; his son, Ramsey (Toni Silver) Tietjen ’74; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Peggy and Priscilla.
Dick’s wife, Louise, predeceased him in 2013. They enjoyed traveling and were world-wide travelers. They especially liked Italy.
They will be missed.
Celeste Ringuette W’48