RICHARDS JR., MAURICE L. “MAURIE”
Maurice L. “Maurie” Richards, Jr., formerly of Ferndale and Royal Oak, MI died on March 20, 2021. He was born January 14, 1928, the son of the late Dr. Maurice and Tressa Richards. His sister, Barbara J. Richards Post, died in 2009. He was a graduate of Lincoln High School, Ferndale, MI in 1946 and attended The University of MI where he became
major of the marching band and joined Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He transferred to The University of Tulsa, OK and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1952. He served and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant after service 1952-1954 in the Korean War as 30th AAA Battalion Sergeant Major. His community service included memberships in Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Lions Club in Dearborn and Ann Arbor, MI (president) and Rotary International in Royal Oak. His business career spanned 50 years: National Bank of Detroit;
in Ann Arbor; Senior Vice-President of Huron Valley National Bank, A.A.; and 24 years as Executive Vice-President and CEO of South Oakland County Association of REALTORS, Royal Oak. He retired in 1994 and moved to Sarasota, FL. During his last
establish a scholarship program to fund awards for high school graduates eligible and desiring to
training in the State of MI. He wrote the REALTOR Scholarship Fund document in 1972, obtained his Board of Director’s sponsorship, and started raising funds. More than 1,200 scholarships have been awarded from earnings since 1983 and the Fund has grown to more than two million dollars. Mr. Richards returned annually to MI to interview ap
trustees. He is survived by his lifetime partner of 41 years, Jack Kesler; a niece, Pamela (Walter) Hunt, of Bradenton; and several great nieces and nephews. In 2009, he and Jack became involved with the Florida State University Master of Fine Arts three-year program at FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in Sarasota as student sponsors. They co-sponsored one student in each class. They also established Endowed Funds at FSU Foundation in 2010 and at Asolo Rep Endowment Fund in 2020 to ensure perpetual funding for three graduate students annually. The Asolo Repertory Theatre and FSU honored them in 2013 as Crystal Society members. In 2015, the Jewish Housing Council Foundation honored Maurie and Jack with its “Eight Over Eighty” award for their voluntary and philanthropic contributions in the Sarasota area. Services will be private. The National Cremation and Burial Society is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be in White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, MI. A Celebration of Maurie’s Life will be held in
! ers, friends may send memorial donations to the Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail., Sarasota, FL 34243.