Richard Andrew Denys Freeman, singer, sportsman
Richard Andrew Denys Freeman, 75, formerly of Milford, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, in his home, surrounded by his family, after a battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
He leaves behind his wife of 39 years, Ann (Brown) Freeman of Milford; his son, Andrew Freeman of Knoxville, Tenn.; his daughter, Charlotte Freeman of Portola Valley, Calif.; his son, George Freeman of Philadelphia, Pa.; his sister, Anne Freeman of Storridge, United Kingdom; his brother, Chris Freeman of Toronto, Canada; extended family; and many close friends.
Richard was born in Woking, United Kingdom, to Denys Freeman and Nancy (Lee) Freeman. He was a chorister and student at Canterbury Cathedral Choir School from 1952-57. He attended The King’s School, Canterbury from 1958-63, then won a choral scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he read Jurisprudence, graduating with a BA degree in 1967 and subsequently an MA degree. Richard was not only a singer, but also a talented sportsman, excelling both in rugby football and crew rowing. He was the first - and so far the only - academic clerk (choral scholar) from Magdalen College to have been awarded a “blue” with the Oxford University Boat Club as a member of the Oxford crew that won the Oxford -v- Cambridge Boat Race in 1966. Richard also raced at Henley Royal Regatta during his school, university, and post-university years. He and his brother, Chris, rowed together in many highly successful crews, were both in the Oxford 1966 Boat Race Crew, and together won many rowing trophies between 1961-67, including the OUBC Pair Oars and the OUBC Double Sculls in 1964 and 1965.
Upon graduating from Oxford University, Richard began a career in the petroleum industry, first with British Petroleum and then with Texaco. After a brief posting in Nigeria, his career took him to the United States, where he met his wife Ann while they were both singing in a professional choir in New York City. Richard continued to enjoy making music with Ann for the rest of his life, eventually also getting to share this passion with his children.
A successful career as a business executive took Richard and his family around the world, including long-term posts in the United Arab Emirates and Russia. He retired as head of Texaco’s Moscow, Russia office and president of the Timan-Pechora Company in 2002.
After decades of living internationally with his family, he enjoyed a quiet retirement, building a house on his farm in Milford, making music with loved ones, and visiting friends and family in the UK. A tenor and pianist, Richard was an avid musician and lover of classical music, especially small ensemble and choral music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Beloved highlights of his last 15 years in Delaware included singing with St. Peter’s Church Choir and the Southern Delaware Chorale.
The funeral services for Richard Freeman will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, at St. Peter’s Church, 2nd Street, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations in Richard’s memory to one of the below programs/institutions that were meaningful in his life: St. Cecilia’s Guild of St. Peter’s Church is an outreach ministry whose mission is to provide the community access to high-quality musical events free of charge. Donations can be made by writing a check payable to St. Peter's Church, memo: St. Cecilia Guild Freeman memorial. Please mail to St. Peter’s Church, P.O. Box 464, Lewes, DE 19958, or via credit card by phoning 302-645-8479.
The Magdalen College Oxford Access & Outreach Fund helps Magdalen College find students with great potential who wouldn’t historically apply to Oxford and supports them to attend Magdalen College as a pathway to realizing their full intellectual and creative potential. Donations can be made in writing by check payable to Magdalen College, memo: Access & Outreach in memory of Richard A. D. Freeman. Please mail to Development Office, Magdalen College, Oxford OX1 4AU, United Kingdom. Online donations can be made at shorturl.at/hjptu.
The Tunnell Cancer Center, Beebe Healthcare's Oncology Services, is committed to providing a compassionate, personal experience to all those who walk through its doors. Donations can be made in writing by check payable to The Tunnell Cancer Center, memo: in memory of Richard A. D. Freeman. Please mail to The Tunnell Cancer Center, Suite 101, 18947 John J. Williams Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
