Richard Heiss, president emeritus of Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law), died Jan. 23.
Heiss was a 1963 graduate of DCL and was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1972. He served as president from 1983 to 1994 and was instrumental in the DCL-MSU affiliation.
“I am personally very grateful for Dick’s warmth and lifelong commitment to our law school," said Joan Howarth, dean of the MSU College of Law. “He had recently been working with President Emeritus Richard Suhrheinrich on a book about the history of the Detroit College of Law.”
Heiss also earned a bachelor’s degree from MSU in 1952 and completed the Stanford Executive Program in 1979. He served five years in the U.S. Army, including three years in Germany.
After his military service, Heiss joined the Manufacturers National Bank in 1957 as assistant trust officer and remained there until he retired in 1992.
In addition to his service to DCL, Heiss was president of the American Bankers Trust Division from 1980 to 1981, a charter member of the ABA Private Banking Committee and lectured at various banking schools during his career. He also served as president of the Detroit Golf Club in 1983, and was on the Michigan Seniors Golf Association Board from 1994 to 2012.
Heiss married Nancy Blum on July 21, 1952, who survives him. Two sons, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and two brothers also survive him.
The Heiss family will receive guests from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, 23720 Farmington Road, Farmington.
A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 28000 New Market Road, Farmington Hills. Private burial will take place Monday at Northside Cemetery in Maybee.
Memorial gifts are suggested to the Heiss Enrichment Endowment A90204 at MSU, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Office, 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 New Market Road, Farmington, MI, 48334.