Richard P. Whiting, 1945-2018

Illustration by Richard P. Whiting

My lifelong friend and former husband, Richard Prescott Whiting, died last week at the age of 72 after a long illness. His passing makes the world a little less interesting.

Rick was truly one of a kind. A gifted fine artist and natural comic, he grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and Bedford Village, New York and was a graduate of New York University. The son of a prominent and successful lawyer, he set out to follow in his father's footsteps but ultimately found that path unequal to his fiery spirit and creative gifts. 

After two years of study at George Washington University Law School, Rick quit to pursue a different career as an illustrator and graphic designer. His superior innate talent quickly secured him a position at a leading design studio in Washington, D.C. Eventually he became the Art Director of the colorful Weekend section of The Washington Post, where he worked for ten years. After leaving the Post he moved to Minneapolis where he freelanced as a web designer.

In case you wondered in this current climate of looking backward, the quote underneath Rick's senior yearbook photo at the Fox Lane High School read: "Better to Reign in Hell Than Serve in Heaven." A decent, honest and good-hearted soul devoted to a long series of cats, the last one being his beloved Edgar, I doubt Rick went south. Instead, it's likely he is already reigning in Heaven.

(Shown above is a photo of us circa 1970, back when we were married. At right is Rick's most recent drawing, done in colored pencil and inspired by a photo he saw of a young Appalachian girl during the Great Depression.)