SOUTHPORT — Dr. Jonathan Young Richmond, 77, passed away Wednesday, June 27, 2018. Dr. Richmond was born Feb. 10, 1941, in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of the late Allen P. Richmond Jr. and Adele Ketzinger Richmond.
Dr. Richmond received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of Connecticut and completed his Ph.D. in Genetics at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. He was a longtime public health official serving as a Biological Safety officer at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, chief of the Safety Operations section in the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the National Institutes of Health and director of the Office and Health and Safety at the Centers for Disease Control. His career positioned him as an early and enduring expert in the field of Biosafety and propelled him to years of dedicated global volunteerism in AIDS education and polio eradication.
Jonathan devoted much of his life to his community and was an enthusiastic member of many organizations including the Southport Rotary Club, Chi Phi Fraternity, Scouting of America, the Civil War Round Table, Brunswick Little Theatre and Providence Home. His community activism included countless hours of mentoring youth and colleagues. An avid gardener and gifted artist, Jonathan was passionate about photography, illustration, and theatrical design. Among his many professional and civic accolades, Jonathan received the 2013 Walter L. Cronkite Jr. Chi Phi Congressional Award for Humanitarianism.
Jonathan was a steadfast and affectionate husband, father, grandfather and brother. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 52 years, Anne Tucker Richmond; four daughters, Eleanor Erickson of Boiling Spring Lakes, Patricia Richmond, and her husband, Andrew Hill, of Atlanta, Jennifer Iapalucci, and her husband, Adrian, of Boiling Spring Lakes and Katherine Deese, and her husband, Mark, of Wilmington; seven grandchildren, Jonathan, Allison, Max, Rebecca, Felix, Milo and Danielle; sister, Marcia Fosberg of Healdsburg, California; and many loving extended family members.
Dr. Richmond was preceded in death by two half-brothers, Allen and Thomas Richmond.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 7, at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, where Jonathan was an active member.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chi Phi Educational Trust, Habitat for Humanity or Scouting of America.
Share online condolences with the family at peacocknewnamwhite.com.
