Dick Burridge Sr., a long-time advocate of Greenhouse Scholars, passed away earlier this month. Dick has been an incredible supporter of Greenhouse since our start. Among his sustaining legacies with our organization, Dick helped establish and grow Greenhouse’s endowment, which sponsored Scholars including Elle (Clarke) Staley and Jessica Moore. Greenhouse would not be the organization it is today without his generosity, insights, and commitment.
Without apology, this is a man that lived life his way. Fully. With clarity of purpose, as an exceptional father, a loyal spouse, a stock-picker-extraordinaire, wise, ridiculously patient, fiercely competitive, and always quick to laughter.
Dick Burridge, age 95, died peacefully at his home on October 4, 2024. He was born on March 19, 1929, in Hinsdale, IL. As he said often, every day in between was a good day.
His early years were mostly in Hinsdale, with a brief stay as part of high school in Cincinnati Ohio. He was a member of a loving household run by his mother Janet and father Howard, and including siblings John, Bob, and Ann. Integrity, hard work, discipline, sports, and fun were emphasized. The saying “get yours first” applied to the food supply in the house, making dinner a competitive event. Dick was a solid student, a decent athlete – playing on Hinsdale H.S.’s football and basketball teams and had a close-knit group of friends that referred to themselves as “the black gang”. Suburban Hinsdale kids trying to sound tough.
For college he determined to go west, boarding a train for the University Of Colorado, Boulder with only a few dollars in his pocket. Having never been west of the Mississippi prior, he arrived in Boulder and walked around to find a place to live. After a couple weeks he sent a letter home to his mother detailing his spending and need for a bit more money, also indicating some modest winnings in a gin rummy game. Winning at cards – gin, hearts, bridge, poker, blackjack – would be a consistent theme throughout his life. He loved his time at CU and would stay involved with the university for his entire life. He wanted to stay in Colorado after college, attempting to land a job in banking in Denver. Denver was a small, developing city, without much of a banking industry presence. For better prospects he headed back to Illinois. As was the case with most all his decisions, things worked out well. Soon after finding an apartment in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, he met a young graduate of the University Of Michigan’s business school living in an apartment in the same building – the woman he was to marry, Leslie Millar.
Dad frequently advised his kids and grandkids that life was not complicated. The “secret” was to have a positive attitude, find work you enjoy, marry someone to share your life with, and don’t waste any time on the concept of worry. He checked those boxes his entire life. P.M.A. (positive mental attitude) was his calling card. He loved work, only retiring when dementia set in in his late 80’s. His marriage was one of mutual respect, loyalty, and shared values. He got up every day ready to have fun and meet reality on its terms.
Dick steadily built an exceptional career. Notable positions included Director of Research And Senior Vice President of Northern Trust Bank, Treasurer of the University Of Chicago, Vice Chairman of Alliance Capital Management, Founder and CEO of The Burridge Group, and resident savant at RMB Capital. A short stay for him at a job was 12 years. He truly left a legacy of excellence and integrity in the investment world. He was trusted, respected, and sought after for counsel and advice by industry leaders for his investment acumen.
His philanthropic endeavors were vast. His legacy as a philanthropist is impact. Not fond of lots of talking and posturing, he got to the point, saw through the clutter to the solutions that would create positive change, and went all in with his time and financial support. He was a big believer in the power of education to change lives and communities. Among his notable accomplishments in philanthropy: he created the endowment for Blue Cross Blue Shield IL – literally changing the trajectory of the organization, he founded one of the first and still leading charter school models in the country with St Mel’s in Chicago, he was an early and longtime contributor to the huge success story that is Wellness House, his vision for bringing practitioners and academics together was supported by one of the largest gifts ever to the Leeds School Of Business at CU to create the innovative Burridge Center For Finance, he was a longtime trustee of Hinsdale IL, he was the Chairman of LaRabida Children’s Hospital, he single handedly brought the University Of Colorado Foundation’s investment management practices and endowment into the modern era. For many years he was serving on more than a dozen boards at once, the large majority non-profit boards.
His personal interests and activities were also varied. The constant being motion. He and his wife of 52 years, Nan, traveled the world together. He loved playing tennis with his buddies at the Salt Creek Club. Inappropriately, they could be heard every Saturday for hours from any of the 16 courts – laughing, “arguing”, competing. He went on annual golf trips all over the world with his sons for over 20 years, despite not really liking golf all that much. Dick was a longtime Bears season ticket holder – taking his son’s to games every Sunday. He was interested in, and clear on his beliefs, regarding politics. He was a runner (jogger really). He liked food – and really lucked out marrying a gourmet chef. He liked a good cigar. He loved Christmas, shopping for presents for the family (and for himself) throughout the year. He had one drink at the end of most days – a triple pour of vodka, a few ice cubes.
He was a role model for many, including his three sons Dick, Pete, and Scott. He was always available, present, and flexible when it came to his sons. It was so rare that he wasn’t upbeat and 100% present for them that they would be startled by any hint of negativity or distraction. He was wise, insightful, and sometimes visionary, but maybe his greatest gift to his kids and grandkids was clarity. His advice was gold. He believed life was simple. Make your own decisions. Be positive. Don’t waste your time on worrying. Stay involved in the things you’re interested in. Be honest. Work hard. Have fun. Simple. And he meant it, he lived it. He was a real role model; his life and example stand up to any scrutiny. He is a lasting icon for living life with intention, confidence, purpose, clarity.
He is survived by his three sons, Dick Jr. (Andrea), Pete (Maria), and Scott (Ashton) Burridge. His nine grandchildren, all adults now, are Haley (Jason) Chrestionson, Richard III “Mac” (Nicole), Avery, Abby (Jason Pillard) Isabelle, Marlee, Lindsey, Riley, and Tyler Burridge. His two great grandchildren are Miles Chrestionson and Georgia Burridge. He is all of their north star.
If you would like to honor his legacy, please donate to either Greenhouse Scholars at 1820 Folsom Street, Boulder CO, 80302, or the Burridge Center For Finance Endowment, University Of Colorado Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver CO 800217
