Richard J. "Dick" Pilch, Jr.

Attorney, professor, and international investigator, Richard J. "Dick" Pilch, Jr, age 82 years of Stockton, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at his home.

Born on June 10, 1940, in Glen Ridge, NJ, to the late Richard J. Pilch, Sr. and Katharine Martindale Pilch. Richard grew up in Basking Ridge, NJ, and graduated from Bernards High School. He earned a B.A. from Lafayette College in 1962 with Phi Beta Kappa honors, and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1968. Richard also studied at Yale Divinity School on a Rockefeller Brothers Fellowship 1963-64, and served on active duty as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry 1964-66.

After graduation from law school, Richard compiled a distinguished record as a tenants' rights expert at the NJ Office of Legal Services, and subsequently as Director of an American Bar Association program tasked with reforming the U.S. correctional system. In the latter capacity, he worked closely with former NJ Governor Richard J. Hughes and U.S. Chief Justice Warren Burger.

Concurrently, Richard and his former wife opened Poor Richard's Book Shop in Flemington, NJ and operated it for 25 years. Richard then became a Professor at Rutgers and for two decades made numerous international trips each year, primarily to Prague, Czech Republic, gathering intelligence on the activities of Russia and China in Eastern Europe and beyond. This work took him to six continents and put him in close contact with important world figures including President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic.

Richard served on the Hunterdon Central Board of Education and the boards of the Hunterdon Occupational Training Center (forerunner of CEA) and the Community Care Association (forerunner of Briteside). He also coached youth baseball for several years. Richard was fond of organ music, and a longtime patron of the annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival in Connecticut. A disabled veteran, he was a member of the American Legion, the American Guild of Organists, and the ACLU.

Richard is survived by his son, General Lance Pilch, USAF, and wife Junko, and son Richard F. Pilch, MD, MPH, and wife Nazrin; his brother, Robert M. Pilch; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by stepbrothers Roger Steelman (1981) and Bill Steelman (2020).

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 3:00 PM in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. Calling hours will be held Saturday June 24, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 PM in the funeral home.

For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit his Tribute Wall at www.holcombefisher.com.