Obituary of Richard Kauffman

January 28, 2024

The family is sad to announce the passing of Richard Genso Kauffman, born 11/11/1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died in New York City on 01/28/2024 at the age of 87.

A wise, thoughtful, steadfast and kind man, Richard was the devoted husband of Nancy Allen Kauffman, father of Philip Kauffman and Liz McDonald, father-in-law to Vikki Kauffman and Gregory McDonald, grandfather to Tyler and Duncan McDonald as well as Rachid Arnick, and he had a loving extended family that he appreciated. He was predeceased by his son, Philip, his sister Joan Leonard of Ventnor, New Jersey, and his parents, Frank and Dorothy Kauffman of Havertown, Pennsylvania.

In 1958, he married Nancy, his childhood sweetheart. Together they had attended Haverford High School as well as the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn Engineering. After graduation, he served on active duty as Naval Lieutenant and then became a systems engineer for IBM. He said his life was blessed in many ways by his wife and two children, and he took great satisfaction from his IBM career, his years of sailing in the Chesapeake Bay and Virgin Islands, and his membership in the Coast Guard Auxiliary which included teaching of safe boating classes. After retiring, he delivered Meals-on-Wheels to those in need on the Philadelphia Mainline.

In 2021, he and Nancy moved to their log home on Analomink Lake in the Poconos, that for many years had been their family’s vacation home. In 2023, he and Nancy moved to New York City to live with their daughter.

He directed that, at his death, his body be donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering where he had received cancer treatment. A memorial service has not been planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.