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Richard D. Hill

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with sorrow the death of former Honorary Member of the Corporation Richard D. Hill, on March 8, 2016 at the age of 96.

Richard D. Hill was initially an Associate Member of the Corporation in 1985 and was later elected an Honorary Member of the Corporation in 1990 following his involvement on the Nominating Committee.

Mr. Hill was born in 1919 in Salem, Massachusetts and graduated from Salem High School and Phillips Exeter Academy. During WWII, Richard served as lieutenant commander in the US Navy and spent much of his Navy service in the Solomon Islands. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1941 and, following a distinguished career, was awarded honorary degrees from Babson College, Boston College, Dartmouth College, Northeastern University, and Tufts University.

After the war, Richard worked for the First National Bank of Boston. In 1966 he was named president of the bank and in the early 1970’s, he became its chairman and chief executive until his retirement in 1984. Mr. Hill served as director on many boards including John Hancock Mutual Life, New England Telephone and Telegraph, Polaroid, Raytheon, and Fox Hill Village.

Mr. Hill is survived by his wife Mildred E. “Polly” (Bergstedt) Hill, his daughter, two sons, eight grandsons, and two great grandchildren.  Funeral services were held on March 17, 2016, at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church.