Jerome Richfield; Retired CSUN Dean, Professor

Jerome Richfield, a retired Cal State Northridge dean of humanities who founded the university’s philosophy department and taught the subject for many years, has died at a Woodland Hills hospital. He was 71.

A resident of Northridge, Richfield died Sunday of complications of a recent heart attack, said retired CSUN English professor Harry Finestone.

Born in New York City, Richfield completed his undergraduate studies and earned a doctorate degree at the University of Cincinnati. He served as the chairman of the department of philosophy at Northern Illinois University before coming to CSUN, then called San Fernando Valley State University, in 1959 to found its philosophy department.

Richfield taught Greek philosophy and was the department’s chairman until 1972, when he became dean of the School of Letters and Science for two years until becoming dean of the school of humanities, a position he held until his retirement in 1989.

He was faculty president in 1965-66, chairman of the statewide Academic Senate of the California State Colleges in 1969-70 and was acting vice president for academic affairs and provost for the university from 1984-85.

Richfield is survived by his wife of 29 years, Rosalind Richfield; son David Richfield of Minneapolis, Minn.; stepson David Williams of Boulder City, Nev.; daughter Helen Richfield of Mill Valley, Calif.; brother Daniel Richfield of Cincinnati; and four granddaughters.

A memorial service is being arranged and information will be available through the university. Donations can be made to the Jerome Richfield Memorial Fund, 9135 Balcom Ave., Northridge 91325. Funds will be used to establish a permanent memorial in his honor.