Richard A. Pender's Obituary
Richard Anthony Pender passed away suddenly on July 18, 2023, from a pulmonary embolism while in the hospital for treatment of an unexpected heart condition. Rich Pender was born in Mineola, New York, to Michael and Francine Pender and was the next to the youngest in a family of five children. He grew up on Long Island and graduated from Garden City High School. Following graduation from high school, Rich attended Dartmouth College, where his father and grandfather also attended and graduated in the class of ’79. His fraternity, The Harold Parmington Foundation, was an integral part of his time at Dartmouth, and he cherished and worked to maintain his relationships with his fraternity brothers.
Rich obtained his master’s degree in business administration at Boston University in 1984. He then worked at the American Stock Exchange for a time before accepting a job in 1986 with National Life of Vermont/Sentinel Advisors Company in Montpelier, Vermont, where he worked for thirteen years, rising to the title of Senior Vice President for the Sentinel Advisors Company. Then in 1999, persuaded by a friend and mentor, he applied for a job at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, where he worked as a Managing Director for the last 24 years until his retirement on May 1, 2023
He was an active member in Scouts BSA as a boy and later with his son Ian Pender. He participated as an Assistant Den Leader and then Assistant Scoutmaster for Ian’s Den and Troop and was immensely proud when Ian reached the rank of Eagle Scout. When Scouts BSA allowed girls to join, he became an Assistant Scout Master for his daughter Riley’s Troop and championed her to the rank of Eagle as well. His most recent position for the organization was as the Chapter Advisor for the Goose Creek District, Order of the Arrow, the honor society for Scouts BSA. He led by example and lived his life by the Scout Oath and Law.
Rich was a dedicated husband and father and is survived by Denise Dauphin Pender, his wife of 20 years; by his children Riley Renee Pender, Ian Anthony Pender, and Alexis Ariel Keene and her husband Nickolas Keene and their three children Patton William, Temperance Maple, and Tulip Baker; and by his siblings Michael Pender and wife Marie, William Pender and wife Jo, Robin Pender, and John Pender as well as an extended group of friends, colleagues and fraternity brothers across the US and abroad. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rich’s memory to Loudoun Hunger Relief.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Belmont Country Club on October 8th from 1-4 pm. 19661 Belmont Manor Lane, Ashburn, VA 20147
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