Richard Doolittle

MADISON - Richard I. Doolittle, 88, passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital in Menomonee Falls, WI. He was born on February 4, 1933 in Lynbrook, NY to Irving and Helen (Clampett) Doolittle.

Dick grew up in Lynbrook. After graduating from Rockaway High School, he attended Syracuse University, graduating in 1954. Before pursuing his Masters, Dick served in the Army for two years. He ultimately earned his Master’s in Human Resource Development from New York University in 1964.

Dick’s professional career started with the American Institute of Banking in New York where he became Associate Secretary, supervising 100 faculty, student counseling (5,000 enrollments), course development, marketing and administration.  After nine years with AIB, he went to the American Banking Association, rising to Associate Director/Chief Operating Officer of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers, with emphasis on financial and information systems, communications and marketing.  Nine years later, Dick moved on to the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison & Herbert V Prochnow Foundation, where he served as President and CEO for 21 years, overseeing all functions of this advanced bank management education provider and its supporting foundation.  He retired in 1995.

Dick married Lorraine Francois in 1958. They were happily married for 49 years. Some of their favorite times were spent at the “treehouse” condo in Wisconsin Dells or on the high seas during one of their many cruises.

Dick was a member of Madison Rotary Club, Dane County Public Affairs Council and other professional organizations. He also served as the Pine Cove Condo Association President for several years.  Dick enjoyed travelling, playing piano, woodworking and gambling.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine, and his brother, Arthur.

Dick is survived by his daughters, Donna Doolittle Brenyo (Douglas) of Mt Pleasant, SC, and Caren Miller of Germantown, WI; his sister, Barbara Itter of Chicago, IL; his grandchildren, Aimee, Matthew, Steven, Courtney and Kevin; his great-grandchildren, Jayden and Lucas; and his nieces and nephews and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at Cress Funeral and Cremation Service, 3610 Speedway Rd., Madison at 12pm on Friday, May 28, 2021. The family will be greeting friends and relatives at 11:00 am until the time of service. Richard will be buried with his beloved Lorraine at Resurrection Cemetery. For those unable to attend, services will be livestreamed here.

The family is grateful to the wonderful, caring team at Froedtert Community Hospital who took care of Dick in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association , 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.