Rich’s experience at Stanford began in 1971 when he was recruited from the University of Washington to serve as the medical school’s dean and to oversee Stanford Hospital as the university’s vice president for medical affairs. During his tenure, which lasted through 1978, he led the medical school through its first period of significant program growth since its 1959 move to the Palo Alto campus from San Francisco.
“He was principled and direct, a man of his word,” said former medical school dean and vice president David Korn.
After leaving Stanford in 1978, Rich worked briefly at the Institute of Medicine and in 1980 became provost of the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center and executive dean of the college of medicine. He retired in 1993 and moved back to the Seattle area.
He is survived by his wife Rosalind; his previous wife, Mary Bell Rich of Santa Clara; and his son Clayton Greig Rich of San Francisco.
For those wishing to make a charitable donation in his memory, Rich’s suggests his favorite charity, MEOW Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 58, Kirkland, WA 98083-0058.
-Courtesy Medical School Office of Communication and Public Affairs
