Remembering E. Michael Richards

It is with sorrow that we share the passing of E. Michael Richards, professor emeritus of music.

One of the world's leading interpreters of contemporary music for the clarinet, Michael was an exemplary performer, researcher, and educator. He joined the UMBC faculty in 2001, was promoted to full professor in 2009, and twice served as chair of the music department before retiring with emeritus status in 2021.

Michael's superb leadership skills were evident soon after his arrival on campus. Linda Dusman, professor of music and former chair, shares, "When we hired Michael in 2001, I did not know at the time that he would become my right hand in revitalizing the music department, recruiting students and new faculty growing from a department of 4 full-time faculty and 60 students to 15 faculty and 150 students in a very short time. Michael brought vision, administrative skills, and extraordinary artistry to UMBC."

Michael's contributions to that remarkable departmental growth were myriad. Working in partnership with Kazuko Tanosaki, he founded the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in American Contemporary Music, an international program that brought several cohorts of students from Japan to UMBC. He established an exchange program with the Conservatorio "G. Nicolini" in Piacenza, Italy, which enabled a steady flow of faculty and students between institutions. He helped manage the completion of the music portion of the Performing Arts and Humanities Building, outfitting spaces and hiring staff to manage its complex operations. As director of the UMBC Symphony, he transformed the ensemble from one that was essentially a community orchestra, with little student involvement, to one comprising 80% UMBC students, and from virtually every major. At UMBC's 50th Anniversary in 2016, the Symphony capped a weekend of festivities, performing outside with fireworks overhead.

An internationally recognized performer and researcher

An internationally recognized performer, Michael was a respected force on concert stages around the world, both as a soloist and with the Tanosaki-Richards Duo, formed with his wife and longtime collaborator Kazuko Tanosaki. He and the duo often premiered works written for them -- more than 150 in all -- building a substantial new repertoire for the clarinet and the clarinet-piano ensemble.

"As a composer, creating music for him as a soloist and for the Tanosaki-Richards Duo constituted high points of my career," says Dusman. "His ability to understand the deep meanings in a musical score, to shape the color and time-space of music for clarinet for me was not only a personal gift, but also a legacy to the entire global community of contemporary music making."

Michael was also a founding member of the UMBC new music ensemble RUCKUS. During his years with the group, the ensemble performed numerous times at UMBC, enjoyed residencies at Stanford University and the New England Conservatory of Music, and performed at venues such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Michael (center) performing in a 2017 RUCKUS concert with colleagues Patrick Crossland, Tom Goldstein, Lisa Cella, and Airi Yoshioka. Photo by Marlayna Demond '11 for UMBC.

A particular research focus for Michael centered around extended techniques for the clarinet, especially the use of microtones (tones that are "between" the traditional notes in the Western musical scale) and multiphonics (the ability to play two or more notes simultaneously). His book The Clarinet of the Twenty-First Century, which investigates these techniques, quickly became a de facto standard reference for students and professionals alike.

A dedicated teacher and mentor

At both UMBC and Hamilton College, where he taught before coming to Baltimore, Michael touched the lives of hundreds of students. At UMBC, he directed a symphony that included not only music majors, but also students majoring in biology, electrical engineering, English, psychology, and many other fields.

"I will never forget the hours that Dr. Richards would stay after symphony rehearsal to just hang out with us and chat or the time that he entrusted me with doing a design for an upcoming concert," remembered Megan Clelan '19, visual arts, a Linehan Artist Scholar who minored in music.  "He believed in each and every one of his students to excel -- both in their careers and as people. His empathy and kindness, no matter how frustrating the situation, will be something that I will always remember and carry with me."

Christian Hartman '20, music, and also a Linehan Artist Scholar, recalled, "Dr. Richards was more than a teacher and mentor -- he was a great friend as well. He awakened and kindled my passion for contemporary music, and supported my openness to different musical styles. I wouldn't be where I am today without Dr. Richards' mentorship, encouragement, and guidance, and I am so grateful that I got to know and learn from him."

While Michael inspired students to be their best and to challenge themselves, he was also an inspiration to his colleagues in the music department. "Michael was a consummate pedagogue and truly loved teaching," adds professor and violinist Airi Yoshioka, a close colleague. "He saw each student as having innate abilities to blossom and knew how to bring brilliance out of them. I learned so much from talking to him about how to support, encourage and patiently watch their development. He shared so many astute observations about my own students and put me on track when facing challenges. I am so grateful for all the wisdom he shared with me because he helped me grow as a teacher."

A generous personality

Known for his quote, "I'm not mad, I'm just excited!" Michael never hesitated to share his positive energy with those around him. Possessed with a razor sharp wit and quick smile, his often quirky sense of humor put people at ease. Faculty, staff, students and alumni alike valued his warm and affable personality.

"When Michael joined the UMBC Music Department over 20 years ago, he and I became great friends immediately," shared Tom Goldstein, recently retired from the music department. "It would be almost impossible to overstate Michael's contributions to UMBC as a phenomenal musician, conductor, teacher, Department Chair, and perhaps most of all, mentor and inspiration to many, many students. I will miss him incredibly."

Michael leading the UMBC Symphony in performance during the university's 50th Anniversary celebration.

Celebrating Michael's life

Michael is survived by his wife, Dr. Kazuko Tanosaki, a concert pianist well known to many in the campus community, and sister, Dr. Melinda Richards Banks.

A celebration of life event hosted by the family on Saturday, March 4 will be viewable by Zoom. Friends are encouraged to visit the site of the Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., to share memories and photographs.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in honor of Michael can be made to the UMMC Heart Center Nursing Fund (under designation please choose Heart Center Nursing Fund), the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKids program, or to the UMBC Department of Music (designate Music as your recipient).

The Department of Music will honor Michael with a named seat in Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall and provide an annual award to a member of the UMBC Symphony.

On Tuesday, March 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall, the campus community is invited to gather together to share memories. This event will be livestreamed on Vimeo. A space for written memories has been created outside the Music Box.

Read more about Michael's work with the UMBC Symphony in UMBC Magazine.

Kimberly R. Moffitt, Dean College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Top photo of E. Michael Richards by Richard Anderson.

It is with sorrow that we note the passing of Dr. Robert P. Burchard, professor emeritus of biological sciences. Bob believed in the potential of the young university that he joined during its first year. A campus leader for decades, he served as president of the faculty senate, interim chair of his department, and as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bob arrived on campus in January 1967, fresh from the Peace Corps, where he had taught microbiology in Nigeria and had conducted research on tsetse flies. He was at that time a young scholar, having earned a B.A. from Brown University in 1960, an M.Sc. from Brown in 1962, and his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 1965. He recalled that creating UMBC’s new biology curriculum from scratch was invigorating: “It was a great experiment. And we were excited about what we were doing. There was a sense that we were all a part of a pioneering educational experience.”

He soon became a popular figure not only in his own department, but also across the campus, building relationships with faculty staff, and students. During the Vietnam War, he participated in teach-ins. In 1981, the UMBC student body voted him “Most Outstanding Teacher.”

An energetic advocate for campus beautification and the natural environment, Bob wrote frequent letters to The Retriever Weeklyencouraging students to take more pride in the campus’s appearance, and tirelessly urged the administration to improve the university’s landscape. In the 1990s, he partnered with Sandy Parker, chair of geography and environmental systems, to preserve Pig Pen Pond, now a centerpiece of the 50-acre Conservation and Environmental Research Area (CERA).

“Bob was the epitome of the academic and scholar—a great department citizen,” recollects Bob’s colleague of more than thirty years, Philip Farabaugh, professor of biological sciences. “He had a deep commitment to the department and to UMBC, and served both the department as interim chair and the university as acting dean of the old College of Arts and Sciences. I know that he worked very hard in those posts and made a great difference in the development of the department and university. Bob was also a scholar in the true sense of the word. He was devoted to the study of his research organisms, the gliding bacteria, and was well regarded by his scientific peers. He was also a gentleman in the truest sense of that word. He was invariably kind and was someone you could rely and depend on. He made the department a better place.”

Although Bob’s research focused on microbiology—he continued to publish into the 2000s—he believed in a broad education for all members of the university, including its faculty and staff. "I'm part of a university community," he said. "We're here not only to further our own academic interests, but to broaden our horizons. There's pleasure in learning something new. I would like to think that all our faculty are renaissance scholars."

Wendy Salkind, emeritus professor of theatre who served as chair of her department during Bob’s tenure as interim dean, recalls, “Bob consistently appeared at the performances of theatre, dance, and music, he attended gallery openings, and he always spoke about the importance of integrating the arts into the life of the campus. He worked tirelessly with each of the arts departments to educate himself about the challenges that were created in a university that, early on, did not have sophisticated arts facilities. He wanted to know how the students learned, why the topics were selected for the public, and he applauded with delight the successes of the students who excited their audiences with performances and showings.”

When Diane Lee, director of the Wisdom Institute and former vice-provost and dean of undergraduate education, considered going into administration, she turned to Bob Burchard for advice. “As I was making the decision whether or not to go into administration, I asked him to reflect on his decision to go into administration. Long story short, he said he realized that he could continue to make a difference, and maybe one with wider impact than at the department or classroom level.”

She adds, reflecting on Bob’s character, “Bob Burchard was one of those people who gave sage advice, but importantly when I think of Bob it was his desire to make a difference and contribute to the lives of others. So that is how I recall Bob Burchard. Trustworthy, smart, thoughtful, kind, honest, a person of integrity, all those good qualities wrapped up into one very, very fine person and terrific educator.”

A philanthropist at heart, Bob became a consistent donor to the university. "I grew up in an environment where you give when you can," he said. "I wanted to give back to an institution that has supported me." He and his wife, Ann Burchard ’82, became members of the 1966 Society, which recognizes donors who have included the University in their estate plans, and were regular contributors to the annual fund.

Bob’s family suggests that contributions in his memory be made to CARE, to the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, or to the arts or sciences at UMBC. A celebration of life service may be planned for the near future.

President Freeman Hrabowski

Provost Philip Rous

Dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences William LaCourse

We are deeply saddened to share that Dr. Thomas “Tom” Roth passed away on Sunday, April 18, at the age of 89. Tom devoted his career to UMBC students for over 25 years, first as a biological sciences professor, and later as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, before retiring in 1998 and transitioning to the role of emeritus professor. 

Tom joined the UMBC community in 1972 and made significant contributions to building the university from the ground up. His creative approach to teaching cell biology and dedicated mentorship touched the lives of countless students and faculty members.  

According to biological sciences chair, Phil Farabaugh, “He was a great colleague and a passionate teacher. He influenced generations of UMBC biology graduates and produced some terrific Ph.D. scientists as well.”

His most recognized research contribution was identifying coated pits as involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis during his doctoral work with Keith Porter, who later became chair of the biological sciences department and for whom the Keith Porter Imaging Facility is named. Tom’s pioneering doctoral work will ensure his name is known long into the future. 

As one of the early biological sciences faculty members at UMBC, Tom helped build the department into a collegial community that persists today. 

“Tom contributed significantly to the foundation of academic excellence at UMBC. He was brilliant, kind, and dignified,” President Hrabowski says. “Most important, he was always authentic in his interactions with both colleagues and students.” He will truly be missed.

Service arrangements will be made at a later time. His obituary can be read here. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Candlelight Concert Society (where Tom was very active, serving as a past board member and sponsoring various events), or a charity of your choice. 

We were deeply saddened this weekend to hear of the passing of William Rothstein, a beloved founding faculty member of UMBC. He was 83. We will remember him as one of the most exemplary professors we have known—a caring colleague, teacher, social scientist, and friend.

Bill was an emeritus professor of sociology at UMBC who devoted his career to our students. After earning his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1965, he joined the UMBC faculty in 1966, when classes first began at the university. He was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and to professor in 1988. He continued to teach as an adjunct faculty member following his retirement, and he was a strong advocate for adjunct faculty during his career.

He touched the lives of countless students through the courses he taught, as the director of the master’s program in applied sociology, and in other ways. He was known as a thoughtful and compassionate mentor, and he remained connected with many of his students for years after graduation as they progressed in their careers. 

UMBC alumni have shared wonderful memories with us. Bill was a season ticket holder for men’s and women’s basketball and was often cheering in the stands or eating pizza with graduate students while watching a game. One former student shared gratitude that Bill was able to attend her wedding, and another remarked that what he learned from Bill continues to shape his own teaching today.

Service also played a large role in Bill’s work and life. In addition to serving as graduate program director and acting chair, he served on nearly every standing committee in his department. His tenure at UMBC saw astounding growth for UMBC’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health.

As a researcher, Bill published widely on the history of medicine in the United States from a sociological perspective, including four books. He explored topics related to medical policy and public health, and mentored student researchers in developing new scholarship on these topics. He also published several articles in the Baltimore Sun and other outlets to increase public awareness of important health-related topics. 

He continued to write during his retirement, publishing a new book in 2018 on coronary heart disease in the 20th-century United States, and more recently researching the COVID-19 pandemic. He was fascinated by the role of UMBC alumni in developing a COVID vaccine and encouraged us to stay positive about the future, even in challenging times.

A virtual funeral service will be held this Thursday, December 10, at 12 p.m., available through this link, with a number of UMBC colleagues and students speaking about his life. A virtual shiva gathering at 7 p.m., through this link, is another opportunity for friends and students to remember Bill.

Honoring his commitment to students, Bill’s family asks that contributions in his memory be made to the Graduate Student Emergency Fund that he established at UMBC. Donations can be submitted online or by check (payable to the UMBC Foundation, with Graduate Student Emergency Fund in the memo line, mailed to the UMBC Foundation, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250) to continue Bill’s legacy.

President Freeman Hrabowski

Provost Philip Rous