Richard John Hemingway

Richard J. Hemingway passed away on Sunday after a valiant battle with mantle cell lymphoma. He touched many lives with his supportive, caring and positive outlook on life.

Richard was born in Leeds, England and earned a PhD in pharmacy from London University. Whilst at University, he swam for England in the Commonwealth Games and momentarily held a record for breaststroke until it was broken by a swimmer in a later heat.

His early career brought him to Madison Wisconsin where he did a post doc in natural chemistry, ironically, for the discovery of natural anti-cancer drugs. He returned to the UK to teach Pharmacy at a college in Portsmouth, then joined Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in their Agricultural Division as an Environmental Research chemist. His many talents were soon recognized, and he was singled out to lead a metabolism and residue department, managing a group of eighty plus scientists. In 1989, he was offered the chance of transferring to Richmond, California where he was charged with the goal of integrating a small Mountain View Research facility with the larger WRC/Zeneca campus in Richmond, until it's closure. Many people there remember him as a fair and exemplary manager.

Richard retired from WRC in 1997 when Zeneca Ag moved to North Carolina. People who knew him well will know that "retirement" was not in his vocabulary. Richard started his own consultancy in Management Development and Team Building. He was passionate about this work, believing that everyone, no matter who, has something to offer. As with other arenas of his life, he is fondly remembered by many of the participants in his workshops.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer, devoted children, Christopher, Richard Jr. and Ian and grandchildren, Freddy, Leo, Max, Charlotte and Zoe. His enthusiasm for life, caring nature and boundless energy will be missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am Friday, 28th July, at St. Stephen's chapel at 66 Saint Stephen's Drive, Orinda, 94563. All that knew him are welcome to attend.

https://www.justgiving.com/hemingway-family