Obituary of Richard Alden

Richard Alden, 75, retired Assistant Professor of Architecture at Penn State, and beloved husband of Barbara A. Labinsky, passed away the evening of Thursday, June 29, 2017 from complications of Alzheimer's after a fearless eight-year struggle with the disease.

Son of Samuel (deceased) and Justine Alden (nee: Pudlo) (deceased), Richard is survived by his devoted wife and his brother, Robert. Richard and Barbara were together for twenty-five years.

Richard held both bachelor's and master's degrees in Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and studied in England for a year on a Fulbright Scholarship.

In addition to having a fulfilling 40-year career as an educator (which he loved), Richard also had a richly satisfying career as an artist -- his primary medium being colored pencil. His drawings hung in galleries in State College, PA, New York City, and Bethesda, MD, and he received a number of prizes and awards for his work.

Additionally, he gave back to his community by developing and supporting silent auctions of his and his students' work on behalf of The Red Cross, HIV-AIDS, the State College Delta Program and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

He enjoyed spending time with his wife and cats at home; visiting with colleagues, friends and former students; traveling to galleries in New York City for the purpose of his continuing self-education as well as for doing research for his teaching and course designs; playing chess and basketball; maintaining his backyard "wonderland;" taking in theatrical and musical events; dining out; going for walks; and, reading books on all sorts of subjects from art to philosophy to quantum physics. Richard will be very greatly missed by many.

There will be a private burial, courtesy of Koch Funeral home followed by (at some time-to-be-announced in the near future) a Celebration of Life ceremony in State College. In lieu of flowers, please make an online, tax-deductible donation honoring Richard, to either Centre County PAWS or the State College Office of the Alzheimer's Association.