RICHARD ALBERT MADLENER

Born: June 7, 1940
Died: May 22, 2012

Richard Albert Madlener was born in Chicago, son of Otto Madlener '26 and Elaine Wetmore Madlener. Dick also had 2 uncles who attended Yale, Albert F. Madlener, Jr., '23 and William L. Madlener, '26. He prepared for Yale at North Shore Country Day School, Winnetka, Illinois and the Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut.

Dick was a member of Jonathan Edwards. He majored in Biomechanical Engineering with a fifth year in Industrial Administration. He roomed with Ron Federico (since deceased) and Herrick Jackson, who was also his roommate at Westminster.

After graduation Dick served 4 years in the Naval Reserve. He obtained his M.S. in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University in 1980.

Dick was an intensely private person and did not share details of his life or work with Yale. However, Herrick Jackson, with whom he kept in contact, advises that Dick worked for the Central Intelligence Agency in computers at the CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia. He had retired prior to the time of his death.

Dick and Herrick shared a love of the arts. In a moving tribute to Dick, Herrick wrote:

Over the years, Dick and I realized we had in common an intense interest in and love of art. We both served on the Artists' Book Committee of the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and knew many of the same book artists, including Ann Kresge, whom we both admired.

We also knew many of the same artists, including Colin Greenly, James Van Dyk (my former brother-in-law), Thomas Chimes from Philadelphia (Dick was delighted when I gave him one of Chimes' drawings), and Californian James McLaughlin. Dick bought a large black-and-white McLaughlin which he hung over his bed. I had a large McLaughlin in my living room when I lived in New Haven. Dick donated a painting by McLaughlin to the Phillips Gallery in Washington, D.C. and also donated a painting by Myron Stout of Provincetown, Mass., to the Phillips Gallery.

We bought from some of the same dealers, too, including Klaus Kertess (Yale '62) of the Bykert Gallery in New York City. Each of us owned a work by Deborah Remington which we bought from Kertess. We both enjoyed working with Jim Harithas when he was director of the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. Some of the most enjoyable times - including the after-hours parties - were with gallery dealer Henri Ehrsam of the Henry Gallery in Washington, D.C. I recall with excitement the time I bought a David Simpson oil on canvas that had been in a basement storage room at the Henri Gallery and found a letter on the back saying it had been owned by Richard Madlener.

When Dick made it clear, in his matter-of-fact way, that ultimately the cancer would kill him, it distressed me that we lived so far apart, I in Berkeley, he in McLean. I visited him in June 2011, when he was still active - dancing regularly, which he loved, and attending Rotary meetings. We had a marvelous visit, talking about art and our shared history.

In addition to art, Dick was a devoted alumnus and loyally supported Westminster School. He was also very active in Rotary International. Above all, he had a passion for dancing. He built a dance studio onto his home in McLean and would dance daily, often with his devoted friend and dance partner Suzi Smith.

Dick leaves his two beloved daughters, Heather and Julie Madlener, his brother William and his former wife Patt Madlener.

Dick died peacefully at home May 22, 2012, after his long battle with stomach cancer. His daughters were with him at his bedside. In the words of his daughter Heather, "I am sure that Dad is now wearing his tux, slim and lithe, dancing away into the light."

Dick was buried in the family plot at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to Capital Caring.