Princeton Class of 1966

Richard Lowell Riemer (1944-2025)

The Class has received word that Rich Riemer died June 25, 2025. At the time, his residence was Oakland, California.

Rich came to Princeton from Auburn East High School, in Auburn, New York, where he ran track, played basketball, and served as president of his class and the student council.

At Princeton, Rich majored in religion, roomed with Cam McEwen and Mike Spence, and belonged to Cap and Gown. He sang with the Nassoons and was a member of the Westminster Foundation.

After graduation, Rich entered Yale Divinity School, where he eventually earned a Master of Divinity degree.

He spent a year as legislative assistant and speech writer for United States Senator Ed Brooke, of Massachusetts, and he worked for a time for a DC law firm on a Ford Foundations study of the U.S. prison system.

Moving to California, Rich earned an MA in clinical psychology from The Wright Institute, in Berkeley. In 1976, he accepted a position at a large community college as counselor for returning Vietnam veterans. After that, he was a psychology fellow in the psychiatry department of Mt. Zion Hospital, in San Francisco.

In the 1980s, he was in private practice as a psychotherapist, with offices in Oakland and Sausalito, while teaching at both Mills College and the University of San Francisco.

Along the way, he acquired a 12-acre ranch in the Sonoma County wine country and a Victorian home in Oakland.

He never married or had children.

Nassau Herald

Memories and Tributes

Rick Eisenhart:

My recollection is a bit fuzzy but here’s what I remember. Rich was a bass who joined us (I think) in the second half of our sophomore year. As freshmen we had a bass named Andy Zimmerman who only lasted one year with us. I’ve added Jim Schenkel, class of 68, to this list who may remember more. Jim is also a Bay Area guy and a Nassoon bass. Rich was a solid bass and a solid Nassoon who just evaporated after graduation. Sporadic contact for a while - then nothing. Maybe Mac and Rufus can add to that. Haven’t heard from Wicks in a long time either.

Jim Schenkel '68:

I agree with Rick's recollection. Rich was two years ahead of me and taught me all my parts. He was a strong and accurate singer and took it seriously. He seemed more mature and settled than many of us, but also somewhat enigmatic. Even though he lived just across the Bay, I only saw him once after graduation when he showed up at a mini-reunion of the 1960s-era Nassoons near St. Helena. That might have been as much as 20 years ago, but I can't recall.

Rich towering over the rest of the Nasoons ca. 1964.

First four back row, all '66: Schriber, McMorris, Riemer, (tall), Wickenden

Front row: Eisenhart 3rd from right

If you have photos, information, or memories that you wish to share, please send them to the '66 Memorial Team (66_MemorialTeam@tiger1966.org). We will add them to this page.