Richard E. Herrick, Jr. ’50 died on February 21, 2026, in Johnstown, New York.
(The following was provided by the Langan Funeral Home on February 21, 2026:)
Richard Eugene Herrick, Jr. ’50
Johnstown (Fulton County) – Richard Eugene “Dick” Herrick Jr., 97, formerly of Schoharie, passed away February 21, 2026, at the Wells House Nursing home in Johnstown, NY.
He was born on April 11, 1928, in Schenectady to the late Richard and Hilda (Lake) Herrick. Dick grew up in Albany, graduating from the Milne School in 1946. In 1950 he graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in physics. After a year of graduate study at RPI, Richard accepted a job as quality control engineer and statistician at Eastman Kodak in Rochester. In 1962, Dick left Kodak to go into teaching. His first teaching position was at East High School, teaching science in Rochester, NY. In 1965, he and his family moved to Schoharie, NY, and he took a teaching position at Middleburgh High School. In 1967 Richard accepted a position at SUNY Technical College in Cobleskill, retiring in 1998 after thirty-six years of teaching. At SUNY-Cobleskill, he introduced courses in astronomy and geology, and also taught physics, chemistry, math and computer programming.
Dick was a life-long-learner and teacher. His love of learning had him continue to go to school after graduating from Bowdoin. In addition to Bowdoin College, he graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a diploma in photography, University of Rochester with a master’s degree in Education, RPI with a master’s degree in Natural Science, Clarkson University with a master’s degree in Engineering Science and, in 1997, at the age of 69, he graduated from SUNY-Cobleskill with an associate’s degree in Landscaping. Also in 1997, Dick was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honor Society for two-year college students.
One of the highlights of his professional career occurred in 1982 when he accepted an invitation from the American Association of Physics Teachers to spend three weeks touring universities in China and the Soviet Union. Prior to this trip, Dick, at age 54, had only flown once in his life, and had never traveled south of Pennsylvania or west of Buffalo. As he always did, he brought along his camera equipment and took many rolls of film documenting the trip.
Dick enjoyed volunteering for many organizations over the years. For several years he taught Elderhostel courses in Cobleskill as well as in Warwick, NY. He was a former member and past president of the Schoharie Kiwanis Club, a member and past Master of Schoharie Valley Masonic Lodge, a member of Scottish Rite Valley of Schenectady, member and past president of Schenectady Photographic Society, a member of the Photographic Society of America, and a member of Albany Area Amateur Astronomers. He also was a former member and past president of Schoharie Central School Board of Education, and for many years during the Cold War served as Radiological Safety Officer for Schoharie County. He served on the Board of Assessment Review for the town of Schoharie, and was an elder in Schoharie United Presbyterian Church. He served as a former director of Fulton County Friendship House.
Dick enjoyed many hobbies, including golf, where he was a former member of Cobleskill Golf and Country Club and Pine Brook Golf Club in Gloversville. He also enjoyed chess, gardening, poker, and many other activities.
Dick was pre-deceased by first wife, Phyllis, who died in 2001 after forty-seven years of marriage. He was also predeceased by his sister, Carolyn Juckett of St. Petersburgh, Florida, and his best buddy, Sam, a beagle basset hound, who passed away at the ripe old age of fifteen many years ago. He is survived by his current wife, Suzanne Arnold-Herrick, whom he married in 2006; his three sons, Richard (Jamie) Herrick of Florida, Dean (Maryann) Herrick of Malta, NY, and Seth (Jan) Herrick of Schoharie, NY; his three stepdaughters, Amy Arnold-Seroussi, Lisa Best, and Meg Arnold. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.