CITY OF STAMFORD CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

He moved to Stamford in the 1950s with his wife and two children. He retired as vice president of North American Phillips in 1990 and is a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and in New Canaan.

 

John T. D. Rich served his community through philanthropy and through volunteer work earning him the Citizen of the Year Award. He served on the Board of Finance for the City of Stamford and the Personnel Commission. But his true service was to St. Luke Community Services. He was instrumental in expanding the organizations services to include caring for the homeless, mentally ill, and people sick with HIV/AIDS. As a board member and president from 1986-1992 he pushed for St. Luke’s to buy the old YMCA building to create a shelter for the homeless. He also helped create the John T. D. Rich Educational Foundation which aims to help needy people pay for college.

She is married to John T. D. Rich and has two children, Bob and Carry.

​

Elizabeth Rich along with her husband joined forces to become one of the most philanthropic couples in the Stamford Community. While he dedicated his time to St. Luke Community Services she worked with the United Way. With the help of the United Way and the Junior league of Stamford she created the Volunteer Action Center in 1973 with the mission of getting volunteers matched with nonprofit groups in need of help. Her work with the Center as well as with Connecticut Public Television and the King Low-Heywood Thomas School earned her the Citizen of the Year Award.