Richard Rauh died today at his Westport home, where he was in hospice care due to a number of ailments. He was 98 years old.
Dick, as he was known to all, lived in Westport for many decades. He earned fame in retirement for his botanical watercolors — highlights of a Westport Library show earlier this year.
Dick Rauh
Most recently, he was part of the film “Below Surface.” The documentary about the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Aquafit program includes an interview, in which Dick describes how much he got from the program.
An avid Y member, he was 96 when he was filmed, in and out of the water.
He attended primary school in his native Brooklyn, then the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan.
Dick served in the Navy as a communications officer. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Hobart College, and studied at the Art Students League.
He then began a long career as an animator, artist and eventually art director in the New York film industry.
Dick was the art director and part owner of the Optical House, a motion picture effects and editing business where he worked with Woody Allen, Brian DePalma and many others. He worked on many films and television ads, and did pro bono work for public television shows like “Sesame Street” and “The Electric Company.”
In his earlier years he was president of the New York screen cartoonist union. After becoming an employer he continued to work with the union, helping set up an annuity for members.
As president of the animation community organization ASIFA East, he judged at festivals all over the world.
After retiring, Dick attended a flower drawing course at the New York Botanical Gardens. Inspired, he earned a doctorate in botany from Lehman College.
One of Dick Rauh’s many botanical watercolors.
His love of the beauty and science of plants led him to create and teach a course in plant morphology at the NYBG. He also served as president of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the American Society of Botanical Artists.
His botanical paintings are in permanent collections at the Hunt in Pittsburgh and London’s Lindley Library, and has won a golden award at the Royal Horticultural Society in London. Dick’s retrospective art exhibition at the Westport Library drew crowds of friends and admirers.
Dick continued teaching online until just a few weeks before his death. He said that of all his accomplishments, teaching was the most important and most gratifying.
Dick was predeceased in 2018 by his wife of 66 years, Harriette Lyford. He is survived by his daughter Helen, sons Daniel and David, grandchildren Marshall, Dustin, Joshua Rauh, and Andrew and Chester Glenn, stepdaughter Sarah Cotner, and great-grandchildren Reece and Ivy.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday (October 11, 1 p.m., Temple Israel). Burial will take be private. For more information and to share condolences, click here.
A life well lived.
In June of this year, Dick and I had a good time getting to know each other. The Westport Center for Senior Activities had invited me to interview Dick for A “This Is Your Life” program, which we did on June 9. I know that everyone at the Senior Center and everyone who was there that day can look back with gratitude that we were able to spend an hour together listening to Dick’s story from when he was a boy to his early years in motion pictures to growing up and achieving his artistic dreams. He was the happiest of men and joyful at having lived his life on his terms. He was an artist with a brush and an artist in dealing with people. We are all the better for having had Dick as a member of our community and for many of us, being able to call him friend. My sincerest condolences to his family.
Rozanne Gates
Wow‼️what a trip🙏
Dick Rauh certainly graced Westport with his talent, strong spirit and goodness! What a rich, full, beautiful life he lived! And his photo is so very sweet. May wonderful memories comfort his family.
I am forever grateful for having an opportunity to be invovled in his many classes. He was a wonderfully teacher and a passionate botanist . I learned so much from this beautiful man! May he rest in peace.
I will always treasure memories of Dick as a kind and gentle person whose joyful enthusiasm was infectious. It was a pleasure to know him.