Deceased April 18, 2020
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In Memory
Jonathan’s father and Kirk’s fraternity brother, Dick deLima, died at home April 18, 2020, of a stroke suffered on Easter morning. Dick was 89 years old and is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sarah; their four children, Jane, Jonathan ’94, Kate and Caroline; and eight grandchildren (to whom he was known affectionately as “Grumble”). Before the word was popular, Dick was a polymath. He got A’s or A+’s in everything and earned a master's in chemistry from Harvard in 1952 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1955. His lifelong passions included his family and music—he was a talented bass/baritone and, quietly, an accomplished pianist. (He was tutored by Teddy Wilson one summer at Juilliard.) Singing and music became a joyful experience in his family too, as all six people in the household sang—often together—in various groups over the years. At Amherst he majored in chemistry … and co-majored in singing. He was a junior Phi Beta Kappa and then the College’s society president his senior year, graduated magna cum laude and was one of the two class orators at commencement. He was active in athletics (mostly track) and was an athletic team manager and member of the Managerial Association. He was also president of his fraternity, Theta Delta Chi.
After law school, he served three years in the navy, mostly as an intelligence officer on an aircraft carrier. After discharge, Dick practiced law in New York City for six years at the prestigious firm of Cravath, Swain & Moore. He moved in-house to become Firestone International’s president. Subsequently he became Polaroid’s vice president and general counsel. At Polaroid, he led his team in a successful defeat of a corporate raider’s takeover attempt and to victory in a landmark patent infringement case against Kodak. During his retirement, Dick continued his charitable activities, supported Sarah’s and his children’s artistic and professional endeavors and enjoyed being Grumble to his progeny.
Dick enjoyed making others’ lives happy and fulfilling without patting himself on the back. He pleasantly surprised Kirk on his 1952 wedding day by showing up at the church unannounced but in time for the wedding; it was a welcome showing. Dick had driven since very early in the morning to northwestern Pennsylvania from D.C. where he had a summer intern job with then senator Hubert Humphrey.
We will miss Dick. He made our lives better and fuller. On behalf of the class, Kirk sends sincerest condolences to Sarah and the deLima family.
Jonathan F. deLima ’94 and John E. Kirkpatrick ‘51