Richard P. Karnan died on December 15, 2004 as a consequence of an accidental fall in his home.

Dick came to Dartmouth from Williamsport, PA . After graduation and service as a naval officer he returned to graduate from the Tuck School.

Settling in Los Gatos, California, Dick became a well-known realtor, a builder, a developer and a civic leader of significance in his community.

Dick told the story of, as a young man, attending a church service with a girl friend - mostly just to make a favorable impression on her. The preacher delivered a sermon saying that a man's three greatest decisons in life were - in order of importance - his relationship with God, his choice of a spouse, and his choice of a career. This made a powerful impression on Dick. Immediately after the service he asked the girl to marry him. Her name is Faith and as his wife she survives him. Dick already had a successful business career going and in a few years, as he related, he achieved the preacher's first decison requirement.

He leaves behind his wife, three children, and two grandchildren.