Donald P. Richter, Murtha Cullina LLP Retired Partner, Passes Away at 92.

January 26, 2016

Murtha Cullina mourns the loss of Donald P. Richter.  Mr. Richter was a named partner in the Firm of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney LLP, which became Murtha Cullina LLP in 2000.

Mr. Richter was born and raised in New Britain, Connecticut.  After graduating from high school, he had no expectations of attending college, but through the intervention of a strong-willed high school teacher who recognized his ability, he was awarded a four year, full-tuition scholarship to Bates College.  His college years were interrupted by World War II, where he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and saw combat in the Pacific theater.  After the war, Mr. Richter returned to Bates and received his undergraduate degree in 1947.  Thanks to the G.I. Bill, he received his law degree from Yale University in 1950. 

After practicing law on Wall Street for a few years, Mr. Richter joined our firm in the 1950s.  His leadership and many other talents were well-recognized by his partners and, when the firm was reorganized in 1967, its new title included his name: Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney.

Mr. Richter advised individual and smaller companies, some of which grew to become large companies, in virtually all aspects of the law, including tax, corporate and trusts and estates.  Invariably, our clients looked to him as a trusted advisor in connection with all important transactions.

He was an active member of the Tax Sections of the American Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. 

Community service was extremely important to Mr. Richter.  He served as a Trustee of Bates College, Manchester Hospital, and Suffield Academy, where he was President of the Board for 12 years.  He served on the Board of the YMCA of Metropolitan Hartford for over 30 years and as President of the Board for eight years.  He was Chairman of the Advisory Board of the WALKS Foundation for over 20 years.  He was an active Trustee of the Hartford Seminary Foundation and Church Homes Inc.  He served Center Congregational Church in a number of capacities.  He was also a Trustee and Officer of the Silverbay Association in Silverbay, New York, the YMCA Christian Conference for many years.  One of Mr. Richter’s rare complaints was that he had to cease serving as a Board member of many organizations when he reached the age of 70!

“Mr. Richter remained extraordinarily committed to the Firm long after his retirement,” said Managing Partner Jennifer Morgan DelMonico.  “Anyone who achieved 25 years with the Firm received a call from Mr. Richter on his or her anniversary date.”

“We are all grateful to Mr. Richter for his extraordinary life, his leadership, and his role in establishing the reputation and legacy on which Murtha Cullina continues to build today,” said DelMonico.

Mr. Richter was a long-time resident of Manchester, Connecticut.  He was very proud to be a member of the Manchester Rotary and was deeply involved in a reading program at Washington Elementary School in Manchester.  He leaves behind his wife Penny and two adult children.

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