In Memoriam Richard Prentice Hopley Former longtime Westminster faculty member Richard Prentice Hopley of South Windsor, Conn., died May 7. He joined the faculty in 1958 and retired in 1987. Dick, who was born and raised in Fitchburg, Mass., attended local schools and was a graduate of Fitchburg High School, Class of Dick Hopley 1951. He then earned his B.A. in Latin and classics from Bowdoin College in 1955. He continued his education with a master’s program at Columbia University until being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his country during the Korean War until his honorable discharge. While at Westminster, Dick taught Latin, classics, English and drama,
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and coached hockey, football and baseball. He continues to be honored at Westminster with the annual award of the Richard P. Hopley Excellence in Latin Prize, which is presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in Latin. Additionally, his legacy is recognized at each term’s awards ceremony when the HopleyJackson Award is given seasonally to the Westminster lower team with the best season. The award is named for Dick and Michael Jackson ’49, who were both lower team coaches for many years at Westminster. Dick was an avid gardener and enjoyed playing and watching sports.
He is survived by his sister, Jean Hopley Klein; his nephew, Stefan Hopley Klein and his wife, Laura, and two grandnieces, Marlena and Caroline Klein; his stepdaughter, Connie Buch; and three stepgrandchildren, Amy Sach, Ben Woodhouse and Abigail Woodhouse ’12. In addition to his parents, Dick was predeceased by his dear friend Shirley Buch and two stepdaughters, Marcia Buch and Lori Woodhouse ’80. “Our school community, in particular, alumni who learned Latin from him, who played on his teams, and who benefited from his advice and care, will join me in mourning his passing and celebrating his inspiring legacy,” said former Head of School Bill Philip in announcing Dick’s death. “Personally, I will always remain grateful for the lessons I learned from Dick’s kind and patient perspective, when I was a new, young teacher at Westminster.”
