Jeffrey Hamilton Richards passed away on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, at age 62 after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. Jeff was a wonderful scholar of American theatre and drama. His works included, Theatre Enough: American Culture and the Metaphor of the World Stage, 1607–1789; Drama, Theatre, and Identity in the American New Republic; his edited anthology, Early American Drama; as well as his works on Mercy Otis . . .

Jeffrey Hamilton Richards passed away on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, at age 62 after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. Jeff was a wonderful scholar of American theatre and drama. His works included, Theatre Enough: American Culture and the Metaphor of the World Stage, 1607–1789; Drama, Theatre, and Identity in the American New Republic; his edited anthology, Early American Drama; as well as his works on Mercy Otis Warren, Anna Cora Mowatt, and many others. Those who had the pleasure of working with him recall his generous mentorship, his kindness, and his encouragement of his junior colleagues.

From Dr. Richards's family

He was born on December 4, 1948, in Libertyville, Illinois, to Fenton Omar and Betty Quantz Richards, both deceased. He received his B.A. from Yale University and his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An Eminent Professor of American Literature at Old Dominion University, he was a member of the English Department faculty for 19 years, serving two terms as department chair. His many published books and articles contributed substantially to the scholarship in his field. He was a loving brother, husband, and father, and a beloved mentor to both students and faculty at Old Dominion. A gentle, noble, and compassionate man, he treated the people and the world around him with deep care and respect; he valued justice and deplored pettiness. He loved spending time out of doors gardening and hiking. He strove to live a simple life, devoting his time to what was most important to him—his family, his teaching, and his writing.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Stephanie Kay Sugioka; his two children, Aaron Nicholas and Sarah Grace Richards; and his three sisters—Suzanne Richards Uczen, Sally Ann Anderson, and Polly Ann Rotunda—and their families. A memorial was held on June 5, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Royster Church or to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University (www.cancer.duke.edu/btc).