Richard (“Dick”) Wolcott Corkhill, 94, of St John and Avalon, NJ passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025 in Cape May Courthouse, NJ. Richard was preceded in death by his older brother Eric and his late wife Nancy. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Hotchkiss Hallamore of Yardley, PA and Avalon and his son Douglas Corkhill of Whittier, NC and St John. A memorial service will be held at Wells Memorial Church in Avalon on July 11.
Richard was born August 14, 1930 in Berwyn, PA. He graduated from Tredyffrin/Easttown High School and Princeton University (1953). At Princeton, he was a member of Colonial Club, played clarinet in the band and served as drum major his senior year.
Richard spent the first 63 years of his life in the Berwyn and Wayne areas. He married Nancy Wiseman in 1953, and their marriage lasted 54 years until she passed after a decline with Alzheimer’s in 2007. It was on a family vacation in 1970 that Richard fell in love with St. John. Together he and Nancy bought a lot and built their home Pass Thru where they wintered every year starting 1993.
After college Richard served three years as a First Lieutenant in the Navy. He advanced his career through General Steel, spent 19 years at Sun Shipbuilding in Chester, PA, and another 11 years with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. For the last 25 years of his career he was a human resources manager.
Richard believed strongly in community service and altruism. He donated lifesaving blood throughout the years to the American Red Cross. He was actively involved in his churches; as a deacon and elder at Wayne Presbyterian, and attended services at St. John Methodist faithfully.
As a boy, Richard was an Eagle Scout and later served as Scoutmaster, first in Newtown Square, PA and then from 1964-1975 at Radnor 284 in Wayne. He developed the troop’s high adventure summer camp program that they are still using today, organizing and planning to take forty scouts and leaders for two weeks to Lake George, NY and on a 70 mile canoe trip through the Adirondack lakes. During his 11 years with 284, the troop presented 46 Eagle Scout awards.
Richard loved to travel, was an avid reader and could always be seen with a book in his hand. Hiking was a passion, and one of his greatest joys was “The Explorers Club” that, with Malcolm Preston, he founded on St. John two decades ago that still exists today. From this club he met lifelong friends while exploring the island.
Richard married Kathy in 2010 and they spent several years together both on St. John and Avalon.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 (https://www.alz.org/) in memory of his late wife and other family members that have suffered this disease.
Additional information can be found at Radzieta funeral home website (Cape May Court House).
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