Richard J. Hyman
Hyman, Richard J. In Scottsdale, AZ, December 27, 2009. Richard Joseph Hyman of Windsor Rd., North Haven. Husband of Suzanne Hagedorn Hyman. Born in New Haven on July 10, 1927, son of the late Isadore and Ruth Perlisky Hyman. Having gone to Hillhouse High School and Hopkins Grammar School, he attended Dartmouth College, Class of 1949. He served in the U.S. Navy. Dick's career was in the financial services industry, starting in 1950 as a registered representative with Gruntal and Company. He moved to Burnham and Company, which became Drexal Burnham Lambert, Inc. serving as a branch manager, NYC head office manager and then Regional Manager before his retirement in 1989. Dick was a member of the New Haven Country Club, The Boulders, (Carefree, AZ) Mishkan Israel Temple in Hamden, and an active Alumnus of Dartmouth College, where he particapated in athletic sponsorship programs for Dartmouth baseball and football. He was a former member of Racebrook Country Club, Woodbridge Country Club and the Quinnipiac Club. Beside his wife of 54 years, he is survived sons: Bob Hyman and his wife Amy of Chappaqua, NY, Jim Hyman and his wife Patricia of Glen Ellyn, IL, Bill Hyman and his wife Debby of Scarsdale, NY. Six Grandchildren; Carrie, Jeff, Emily, Tom, Ali and David Hyman. And a brother Herbert Hyman of Del Ray Beach, FL. He was predeceased by a sister Anne Hyman. A Memorial Service will be held at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden on Friday, January 1, 2010 at 12:30 PM. It is suggested that contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450 or to a charity of ones choice.
To Suzie, Bobby and the rest of the Hyman Family, I was deeply saddened to learn of Dick’s passing today from my long-time friend, Dave Ellovich. After my father died suddenly at the age 60 in 1970, I was hired by Tubby Burnham to work in Burnham & Co.’s newly acquired Hartford office (my father was instrumental in getting the merger done just months before his death). When I returned to Hartford in August, 1971 after training at 60 Broad for 4 months, Dick was managing the branch. I was 22, newly married with a child, and clueless. RJH sat in my father’s former office, an office I occupied after Dick moved into Charlie Cooley’s space a few years later. We aptly renamed it .The Office of Promises.. I work for and with Dick for about 13 years, until he took the New York job. Those were interesting years – unsettled times and for the most part, lousy markets. In the midst of it, he built a beautiful office on the 17th floor of the newest building in town. It was a great statement and the best spot in Hartford. He opted for a high rise, saying he wanted to make it difficult for non-clients to walk in off the street and hang around the our office. He was always raising the bar for us (and the industry in general). During those unusual times, Dick was like a rock, growing and managing a very successful office. And all the while he was putting up with the shenanigans of his pretty wild bunch of late 20’s and early thirty-something charges, a group of party animals I was proud to be a part of! Our offices at both 100 Pearl and the Gold Building were run perfectly on every level. No one took care of business quite like Dick, although I may not have agreed with every decision (I was not real happy when he fired my then assistant, now wife of 28 years…). But almost 40 years and several firms later, he is still the standard by which I measure all others. Far and away the best, most professional manager I have worked for. I wish I had let him know that in subsequent years. Dick always spoke of you Suzy, and the kids. And of course, he took great care of Izzy and Ruth (I will never forget the world’s largest Quotron screen he got for his dad). As professional as he was in the office, we still knew a great deal about the Hyman family because he talked about you all the time – it was the most important thing in his life. And if you had a personal problem (cash flow was difficult to manage back then), he would go to bat and work tirelessly to help you out. The lectures that were part of the resolution were painful but usually well-deserved. So when I think of Dick Hyman, I think a consummate business man and great mentor. But I also think of his stories about skiing with the family, Metromedia (enough already Dick with that stock!), Aston Martins, the always stylist signature – the initials RJH had be on basically everything we did- his reminding us occasionally that 12 hour lunches may not be the best thing for our careers, his not-so-great knees and of course, a terrible back that obviously gave him tons of pain. Yet despite those obvious ailments, to this day I have never seen a guy hit a low iron as well as Dick. Half the time he winced as he walked through the office, then he goes out a hit rifle shots with a 2 iron! Unbelievable. I was lucky to have known Dick, and luckier still for having him there to show me the way early in my career. He did some things for me that ended up being life-changing – all for the better by the way. This has been a pretty good run for the Dubey family, in a big part thanks to Dick Hyman. So in your time of sorrow, please know that your husband, father and grandfather meant an awful lot to more people than you can possibly imagine. Cynthia’s and my thoughts are with you all. Sincerely, Gerry Dubey Chester, CT
I am saddened to hear of Dick’s passing and I would like to pass my sincere condolences to his wife Suzanne, and the Hyman family. A cherished friend of my late father Bill Ferguson, our family last saw Dick 3 years ago at my father’s memorial. My grandfather Duncan, who had my father’s childhood home in Westville, was also friends with Dick’s father Isadore. Dick and Bill were friends at least since times at Hopkins Grammar and both attended Dartmouth (Dad was a ’50 and I’m a ’75). We always heard wonderful stories about those times, and they came to life on many a Yale-Dartmouth football game Saturday. As a Dartmouth sports booster, I remember fondly Dick’s keen interest in my stint on the baseball team at Dartmouth. I will always be impressed by the sense of place (the New Haven area) and wonderful lifelong friendship that my father and Dick shared. Sincerely, Duncan Ferguson
Mrs Hyman, Bob, Jim and Bill- I have fond memories of Mr. Hyman…always a gentlemen. Bob, Jim and Bill, it seems like yesterday we spent countless hours playing every sport possible on your front lawn on Corbin Road. I remember your dad’s trophy room for golf…it always inspired me to be a better player. As kids, we loved his cool cars. I remember the Aston and the Volvo like it was yesterday…funny the things that stick with us. When I would run into him and Mrs Hyman over the years at NHCC, he was always gracious and took the time to talk and update me on the family’s progress. Mrs. Hyman, my condolences and best wishes for the future. Dick will be sorely missed. With warmest regards, Mike Amore
Thanks for teaching me how to ski (even if you did it by leaving me on the top of the mountain and saying I’ll meet you at the bottom. I know you were close by watching the whole time). Thanks for showing us that big dogs and tall uncles could really make loud scary noises but could also make you happy and be lots of fun. Finally thanks to you and Aunt Susie for always being there for Mom. You will be missed by all your relatives and an example that we will pass along to our children and grandchildren who didn’t have the luck or honor to have known you. Sorry I can’t be there to say goodbye but know we are with you in spirit. Tim and Diane