WILMINGTON — Richard Allan Horgan, Esq., age 82, of Wilmington, NC passed away peacefully at home of CMML on October 22, 2025. His daughter held his hand as he took his last breath here on earth and his first breath in Heaven.
Richard (Dick) was born in Los Angeles, CA to John J. Horgan and Margaret Coe Horgan. Dick attended Yale University, where he was captain and catcher on the Yale baseball team and once hit 3 home runs in a single game! At Yale he received a full scholarship and graduated in 1964. He then went on to Boalt Law School at Berkeley where he earned his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1967.
Dick then spent many years as a Corporate Litigator in New York City at Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam and Roberts, where he worked on many high profile cases both nationally and internationally, becoming a young partner in NYC, and eventually a Managing Partner in the firm’s office in Stamford, CT.
After many years with this prestigious law firm, Dick “retired” to Wilmington, NC where he couldn’t sit still for long so dabbled in several new hobby careers such as real estate, landlord, developing a neighborhood in Whispering Pines, NC, and owning a pottery painting studio, Firebird Studio, in The Forum in Wilmington. But, he returned to his love of law with a new focus as a Trust and Estates Attorney, passing the bar again in multiple states once again in his fifties. In this new career, Dick found a passion in helping hundreds if not thousands of clients over the last 25+ years in his private practice and excelling as an expert in this area of the law.
Dick never did anything half way. He always put in 150% of himself and his efforts in everything he did, including his career and helping as many individuals and families as he could along the way. He saw it as an honor and a privilege and was determined to treat everyone with dedication and integrity.
Richard Horgan was preceded in death by his adoring wife, Cynthia Horgan who passed just 5 years prior, parents John J. Horgan, Margaret Coe Horgan, mother-in-law Emilie Smith, and beloved brother John F. Horgan. He is survived by his loving family including his daughter Kirsten J. McLain, pride and joy grandsons Aidan (19), Noah (16), and Caelum (10), as well as his son-in-law Matthew (Brian) McLain. Additionally, he is survived by his sister Margaret Horgan Harms and her husband Charles Harms, nephews Timothy Harms, Christopher Harms and their families as well as sister-in-law Joyce Tischler Horgan and niece Margeve Horgan.
Dick was devoted to his family. His wife, daughter and grandsons were the recipients of the greatest love from a man who only knew how to show them goodness, kindness and devotion. He was an example to follow, a role model of integrity, Christian love and leadership, morals and values, and a patriarch to look up to. He was truly loved and will be sorely missed, with the only solace to them that he is no longer ill and is now with his soul mate, dancing once again with Cynthia. Theirs truly was a “One In A Million” love, and Dick was a one in a million man whose loss will be felt forever by many.
Dick also was very active in his church, Wrightsville United Methodist Church, serving on several boards over his 30 years with the church. He also taught his adult Sunday School class for more than 20 years. He took part in The Walk To Emmaus for several years and truly found a new love for God and Jesus in his new church home. God was good to him there and he was good to God.
Additionally, Dick was an exceptional tennis player. He played tennis throughout his adult life, competing on many teams in many tournaments and was an A player. Nicknamed “The Legend” by his buddies, and later “Smooth Ride,” he played tennis until age 80, when he was diagnosed with CMML, a terminal cancer. He won a lot of matches but was always a good sportsman, valuable teammate, strong leader, and fun to watch. Again, he gave 150% to everything he did, including tennis. He was also an avid art collector, loved to travel the world, read constantly, learn daily, go fishing (he didn’t really catch a lot), spend time with his family, dance with his wife, listen to his favorite music loudly, drive in his convertible, and even write love notes to his wife Cynthia.
There are not enough good things that can be said about Richard Horgan. He was exceptional at everything he was and everything he did. He can be remembered as loving, kind, respectful, brilliant, honorable, strong, moral, Christian, good, devoted, dedicated… a father, a husband, a partner, a friend, a leader, a teammate, a philanthropist, a provider, a caregiver, and most of all a strong and faithful servant. But most importantly he didn’t do all this out of a sense of obligation but rather because he wanted to be that good person in the world. It was in his soul. He will be sorely missed but we won’t be lost without him because he made sure to teach us all how to go on, how to survive, and how to make wise choices in life. He will live on in his family and especially in his daughter and in his grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Wrightsville United Methodist Church or The Smile Train.
Clients of Richard Horgan, Esq. are asked to contact attorney Scott Donaldson at Cline Donaldson, PLLC in Wilmington, NC for further assistance with your legal items that Richard worked on your behalf.
A Memorial will be held for Richard Allan Horgan on November 15, 2025 at 11am, at Wrightsville United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC, with a reception following. All are welcome.
