May Blecher Richard

May Blecher Richard, 98, died on February 28, 2017 after a well lived long life. She will be missed by her family and friends who will always remember her elegance, cheerful dignity, and passion for social justice. Born on May 27, 1918 in New York City she was the only child of Abraham and Yetta Blecher. May was raised in Stelton, NJ, a community founded on the principles of the Modern School Movement, a forerunner of many progressive education movements such as Montessori. It was there that she met the love of her life, a summer visitor, Leo Cohen Richard whom she married in 1938. The family, now including infant Robert, moved to Atlanta in 1942 where Leo assumed the S.E. directorship of the Jewish Welfare Board and the USO. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Leo, son Robert Stephen Richard, and daughter Ellen Richard Gil. She is survived by her son Lee Donald Richard (Adrina), grandchildren Amy Richard, Aram David Richard, Meredith Richard, Yoav Gil and Eitan Gil. Nieces Ronnie Peluso, Ruth Krosin (Ken) and Susan Ko Rossen and great nephews Michael Krosin, Richard Krosin and Daniel Ko for whom May will always be a blessed memory. Memorial plans to be announced.