In Memory of Richard P. Kiphart – Trustee

The Poetry Foundation remembers Dick Kiphart, former Poetry Foundation board chair, poetry lover, philanthropist, and friend who died at his home on Saturday night at the age of 75.

“We can’t say enough about Dick and the legacy he left here at the Poetry Foundation,” said Henry Bienen, President. “We benefitted from his leadership and kindness. I admired him immensely and am so grateful we became good friends. We send our deepest condolences to Susie and their family.”

“Dick joined the Poetry Foundation board in 2012 and, as he had in other organizations, immediately assumed a leadership position,” said Willard Bunn, Board Chair of the Poetry Foundation. “He brought to our board deliberations both immense talent and a wonderful sense of humor. We will miss his presence in the boardroom and in the cultural life of this city that he loved so much.”

In a letter sent to his colleagues at William Blair & Associates where Dick enjoyed a 50-year career, John Ettelson, President and CEO, wrote “Dick had an amazing life that touched so many people, from the halls of William Blair to the far reaches of Africa; from boardrooms of well-established companies to lofts of young entrepreneurs.”

Dick had an extensive and deep commitment to supporting the arts and charitable work over the decades he lived in Chicago. As chairman of the Merit School of Music, Dick helped bring music education to more than 4,000 Chicago-area youth. He later served as president and CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and of the Erikson Institute, a Chicago graduate school in child development. He was also chairman of the Board of Columbia College in Chicago and the board of Children’s Memorial Hospital.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dick is survived by his wife, Susan, and their three daughters and seven grandchildren. Dick and Susan were involved in numerous philanthropic causes in Africa, funding approximately 80 wells in villages without power or water in Ghana and, later, schools in 15 of these villages. Dick also served on the advisory board of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa—the acronym also stands for Democracy, Accountability, Transparency, Africa), an organization formed in 2002 by rock star and social activist Bono, which aims to reduce poverty in Africa through advocating international policy changes.

The Poetry Foundation will greatly miss seeing Dick at board meetings and at the many events he enjoyed attending over the years. We appreciate his many years of service.