GRANTHAM, NH — Richard (Dick) DeNatale, 93, a long-time resident of Grantham, NH, died November 12, 2018 at home with family in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.
Born September 1, 1925 in St. Albans, Queens, NY to Joseph F. and Eva R. (Ratti) DeNatale, Dick lived in Yonkers, NY until graduating Fordham Prep in ‘43; going on to Dartmouth College class of ‘46 in the V12 program, beginning active service with the U.S. Navy in ‘44, serving in the Pacific Theater until ‘46; then graduating The Cooper Union in ‘49; and on to Yale University for a BFA’51 and an MFA’54 focusing on graphic design under Josef Albers.
Dick designed books for The Yale Press and Harper & Bros. Publishers; worked with designers Elaine and Alvin Lustig, NYC; was Director of Graphic Design for Reynolds Metals through ‘59 then recruited by Leo Lionni for the Carborundum Company to become Director of Marketing and Creative Services. In 1973, with the acquisition of Spode, Dick helped conceive, create and became founding Director, Chief Executive and member of the Board of Trustees of The Carborundum Museum of Ceramics, at the time a central component to the revitalization of Niagara Falls, NY. Carborundum was acquired by Kennecott Copper in 1977, and later by Standard Oil of Ohio, through which Dick continued as Director of Marketing & Creative Services until 1980 when he started DeNatale Associates in Ridgefield, CT. His work earned awards from numerous arts and design organizations and is represented in the permanent collection of MoMA, NYC.
Dick’s support of the arts included designing “Arts in Virginia”, a quarterly publication for Leslie Cheek Jr. at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; teaching at Carnegie Institute, RIT, Pratt Institute, the AMA, and Princeton among other institutions; serving as a member of the NY State Council on the Arts and Board of Directors of Artpark in Lewiston, NY by invitation of Senator Earl W. Brydges; contributing to the theater program and Festival of the Arts led by Brother Augustine Towey, C.M. Ph.D. at Niagara University; and sitting on the executive committee of the Yale Arts Association with Robert A.M. Stern, Ivan Chermayeff and Robert Osborne among others.
Married to Noreen Anne Keily (dec. 2014), they had five children and lived in New York City; Louisville, KY; Richmond, VA; Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada; Wilson, NY; and Ridgefield, CT before retiring in 1984 to Eastman in Grantham, NH. They were lifelong activists, scholars, gourmands, thoughtful parents and hosts to a vast collection of exceedingly interesting friends.
Dick’s lifelong travels started with the U.S. Navy during WWII sailing to the Caroline Islands serving aboard the USS Arkansas. He and Noreen steamed to South America for their honeymoon, later visiting 49 of the United States, most of Canada, Central America, Scandinavia, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. They returned from each trip with new tales, ideas, many photographs and always recipes! to share with friends, family and colleagues regularly entertained in their various homes.
Dick is survived by his five children: Richard of Littleton, CO; Timothy (Josanne) of Rochester, NY; Nancy (Michael Curtis) of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; Thomas (Crystal) of Brookfield, CT; and Carol (Michael Lloyd) of New Haven, CT; six beloved grandchildren: Nicholas, Katherine, Andrew, William, Peter, and Emma; and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to send gifts in celebration of Dick’s life to The Dunbar Free Library P.O. Box 1580, Grantham, NH 03753, an impressive small village resource, loved, frequented and generously supported by Noreen and Dick for more than 30 years.
A devout Catholic, we hope that Dick is once again enjoying happy hours with Noreen in their heaven.