Herbert Bailey Richter

Herbert Bailey Richter passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2023 after a brief illness. He was born on Thursday, March 31, 1938 in Port Chester, NY, the second son of George Herbert Richter and Pauline Gordon Bailey.

Herb graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1959 and spent 21 years in the Navy. His military career took him across the country and around the globe. He received a Master's Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. Herb was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and retired as Commander in 1980.

His second career began shortly thereafter in Albuquerque, NM as the first instructor in the NJROTC program at Manzano High School. He taught for another 21 years, retiring in 2001, and continued to substitute teach for several more years.

Herb met Barbara Smith at the Officer's Club on Kirtland Air Force Base in 1967. They were married in 1968 and later blessed with two sons, David and Paul. Herb and Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary shortly before Barbara's passing in 2018.

Always a sports fan, Herb went to New York Giants games as a youth, and continued to root for them after the team moved to San Francisco. He was a season ticketholder for UNM Lobos Basketball for more than 40 years. Herb was also a lifelong fan of the New York Rangers. He enjoyed bowling and played senior league softball until he was 84.

He loved to travel and took advantage of summer breaks to take family road trips, often catching a baseball game on the road. Such a trip took him to Cooperstown, NY in 1994 where he also happened to watch the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup. One of Herb's favorite sports and travel memories was attending Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with David and Paul, where he watched the San Francisco Giants win the World Series.

Herb is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara, his parents, and his brother, Edward Richter, and his wife Dottie. He is survived by his two sons and their wives, David and Delia, and Paul and Ann, his brother-in-law, Fred Smith and his wife Angelica, as well as nieces Alta Richter and Mary Richter, nephews Derek Smith Keyser and Evan Smith, and many students, friends and loved ones.

Commander Richter will be buried at sea, courtesy of the U.S. Navy. Donations can be made in his memory to the ABQ BioPark or to Bear Canyon Senior Center.