Richard Hauser

Richard P. Hauser of Oak Ridge, Tenn., formerly of Northport, N.Y, died unexpectedly on June 6, 2019, at the age of 84.

He is survived by his children, Jonathan Hauser, wife Quintella (Quin), and their children, Ashley, Katie and Jonathan II; Elizabeth (Betsy) Hauser Abernathy, husband Douglas, and their children Celia Bayliss and husband Hunter Bayliss, Rose Keller and husband Robin Keller, and Jane Abernathy; and Andrew Aiello-Hauser and husband Robert Aiello-Hauser. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Deborah Hauser, and her sons Mark, Joshua, Bradford, and Matthew Hauser, and their wives and children. Joan, his wife of 61 years, predeceased him in 2018, as did his brother Harry Hauser in 2003.

Dick was born on December 20, 1934, to Milton and Lillian Hauser, and grew up in Great Neck, N.Y. In 1956, he graduated from Amherst College and married the true love of his life, Joan Goldberg. After he received an MBA from Columbia University, Dick followed the urging of his father-in-law and began his professional career in the department store business. He went on to be a major retail innovator.

Starting as a trainee in the ladies' budget coats department, he rose quickly through the ranks at Bloomingdale's, and was instrumental in the creation of designer boutiques as we now know them. He also served as president for both Neiman-Marcus and The Broadway and was CEO of the venerable John Wanamaker chain in Philadelphia. He later went on to run a children's clothing manufacturing company and a safety equipment company. He also served as a retail consultant.

His rapid career advances meant many moves, from Scarsdale, N.Y., to Dallas to Beverly Hills to Philadelphia, and then to Northport, Long Island, where he and Joan spent over 20 years and designed and built their dream house. They moved to Oak Ridge to be near daughter Betsy in 2016.

Dick was never happier than when skiing. For over 60 years, he skied every winter in Stowe, Vt.; he knew everyone on the mountain and everyone knew him. For many years he travelled often to foreign countries, for work and pleasure, usually with wife Joan. He was also an accomplished sailor and a voracious reader, and he loved to write clever, rhyming poems for special occasions. He completed the New York Times crossword every day-in ink.

His charm, wit, and intelligence brightened the lives of all who knew him. He welcomed friends and family into his home and was a generous and entertaining host. He was a skilled joke-teller who loved to make people laugh. He was still in frequent touch with some of his childhood and college friends, helped organize a number of high school reunions, and in recent years enjoyed using Facebook and email to connect with others from his past.

He will be missed by all who knew him, and by his children and their families most of all.

The family is not holding services for the public at this time. Donations in Dick's memory may be made to the ACLU or the organization of the reader's choice.