Louis Joseph "LJ" Richman, Jr.

Louis Joseph (“LJ”) Richman, Jr., peacefully passed away at home on November 3, 2021, at the age of 91. His death was much as he lived - with “no complaints,” a focus on family and an appreciation for his life.

LJ was a lifelong resident of Newport News, VA. He was always the youngest kid in the class - he started kindergarten a year early and went to college at age 16, where he was classmates with military veterans in their twenties and thirties who were returning from World War II. He was a graduate from Newport News High School in 1946, earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Virginia (UVa) in 1950, and graduated UVa School of Law in 1955. At UVa, he was a member of the Phi Epsilon Phi Fraternity, business manager of the college newspaper, and associate business manager of the VA Law Review. After a stint in the U.S. Army, stationed at Ft. Eustis as the assistant to the Bird Colonel, he received his Master’s Degree in Tax Law from New York University School of Law in 1959.

A member of the VA State Bar and Bar Association for more than 50 years, most of LJ’s legal career was in private practice with a focus in tax law, in downtown Newport News. He had thousands of diverse clients and tried many civil and criminal cases, including at the VA Supreme Court. Debbie Williams was his trusted legal assistant for more than 35 years, and Bobby, his son who is a lawyer, joined LJ’s practice for three years.

LJ was actively involved in his community and

held many leadership roles in the organizations he cared most about. He was the 5th President of the Beth Shalom Nursing Home at the same time that he was President of the local American Heart Association; President of the Ft. Eustis Reserve Officers Association; Chairman of the

Adath Jeshrun synagogue and Chairman of the Building Committee for its new home; member of the Jewish Federation endowment and cemetery committees; captain of a division of the United Way, and an engaged member of the Rotary Club for more than 40 years. He served on the national board of the Travelers Protective Agency (TPA) for a 2-year term after being President of the VA division.

After retiring from practicing law in 2006 - and his own bypass surgery in 1995 - LJ joined the advisory board of Mended Hearts at Riverside Hospital and at least once a week volunteered advising families of patients who were having bypass surgeries.

LJ was married to his beloved wife, Tzina, for more than 57 years and is survived by her and his children, Rae (Tomas), Dorothy (Mike) and Bobby (Stacey) and grandchildren, Shai, Levi, Yael, Elon and Ayla. He was pre-deceased by his daughter, Sheri. LJ loved to travel and sample cuisine around the world with his family.

LJ will be honored with a Graveside Ceremony at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, 2021 at the Hebrew Cemetery by Rabbi Gilah Dror and Rabbi Dorothy Richman. Donations can by made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.