Richard Henke Obituary, Knox College Honorary Trustee Has Died
Richard Henke Obituary, Death – Richard P. Henke ’56, an honorary trustee of Knox College, passed away on April 9 at home while being surrounded by his loved ones. In 1956, Richard P. Henke earned a chemistry degree from Knox College. He left his roles as a clinical professor at the University of California Irvine Medical School as well as his pathology practice. Henke participated actively in his neighborhood, local government, the library system, and trade associations.
He competed in intramural swimming and track when a student at Knox, served as Campus Chest’s treasurer and was a member of and the president of Phi Gamma Delta. He received a cum laude degree. He attended Stanford University Medical School, where in 1960 he graduated with an M.D. Between 1960 and 1963 at the University of Minnesota and 1963 to 1966 at the University of California School of Medicine, he completed internships and residencies in internal medicine and pathology.
In 1966, the American Board of Pathology granted Henke certification. He worked as a pathologist in private practice in Daly City and Long Beach, California. At the University of California, Irvine, California State University Dominguez Hills, and California State University, Long Beach, he participated in graduate and postgraduate education. Henke provided medical professionals, nurses, and laboratory techs with continuing education.
Everyone who knew Henke could see how devoted he was to both Knox and his family. His devoted family, which includes his son William Henke ’87 and granddaughter Sophia Elswick ’23, are left behind. Henke and his late wife, Sophia Dimitriadis, made numerous gifts to the College. Among these was the Henke Distinguished Professorship, which provides financial support to a full professor or associate professor of the faculty who has consistently excelled at teaching undergraduates.
Additionally, they started the Richard P. and Sophia D. Henke Music Fund, which helps the music department with its numerous projects and financial requirements. This enables a more vibrant and student-focused performance program. For students interested in a career in libraries and archives, the Richard P. and Sophia D. Henke Library Fellowship offer an intensive introduction to academic librarianship.