Foster Swift attorney dies at age 43

Ronald D. Richards, Jr., a partner at Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith in Lansing who specialized in municipal and telecommunications law, died Nov. 28, 2015, at the age of 43, after a courageous battle with cancer.

A native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., Richards was an alumnus of Thomas Cooley Law School and of State University of New York at Fredonia.

Before joining Foster Swift in 2002, he worked as a research attorney in the Pre-Hearing Division at the Michigan Court of Appeals. He then served as a judicial law clerk for Justice Marilyn Kelly at the Michigan Supreme Court.

Richards regularly spoke on legal topics, and authored articles that have appeared in the Michigan Bar Journal, and multiple law reviews, trade journal magazines, and newsletters.

He served as an adjunct professor at Cooley Law School for several years, where he taught legal writing, and at Michigan State University where he taught a four-part lecture series on forensic psychology, as well as teaching tips to negotiate a physician employment agreement.

He  was an avid volunteer to youth-oriented endeavors and served on the Board at Impression 5 Science Museum and formerly coached youth soccer in Okemos.

Richards is survived by his wife Madhvi, children Naveen and Neera, parents Nancy and Ron Richards, brother Jeffery Richards, and grandmothers Norma Carlo and Jean Richards.

A Memorial Service will be held 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, at the University Club of Michigan State University, 3435 Forest Rd., Lansing, MI 48910.

Donations may be made to the Cancer Research Institute, One Exchange Plaza, 55 Broadway Suite 1802, New York, NY 10006 or at www.cancerresearch.org/how-you-can-donate-now. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.greastlansing.com.