By Jason Sweeney
 Mr. Riches |
Lawrence Victor Riches, the co-founder of Pinewood School, passed away last Friday at 86. From the numerous pine trees he planted with his children to the school named after those pines, Mr. Riches has left an indelible mark on the local community.
“Undoubtedly, he considers his greatest achievement his family,” said Kathleen Riches Pickett, the daughter of Mr. Riches. It was a big family, including four sons, a daughter, 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
“Outside of his family, the thing that has brought him the most fulfillment and joy is Pinewood School,” said Riches Pickett. “It was huge in his life.”
Mr. Riches’ wife, Gwendolyn, started teaching children in the family’s Los Altos Hills home. Teaching was her passion, explained Riches Pickett. Her mother’s passion for teaching and her father’s financial genius were the right combination to make the school they founded together survive and grow and become an integral part of the Los Altos community.
“He would comment frequently how lucky he was even at his age to visit the schools,” said Riches Pickett. “The children knew him by name and would greet him with affection and thought he was an important part of his life. That gave him a sense of real accomplishment.”
Riches Pickett described her father as a tall and noble man.
She had worried after he suffered a stroke three years ago paralyzing half his body how he would cope as he was a very independent man.
“He suffered the consequences of the stroke with great dignity,” she said.
From his upbringing in a Salt Lake farming family to a life of hard work and study, Mr. Riches was the embodiment of the American dream.
“He believed the key to success in life was to work hard and lead by example,” said Riches Pickett.
Mr. Riches is survived by: sons Lawrence Jr., Dennis of Los Altos Hills and Thomas of San Jose, Costa Rica; daughter Riches Pickett of Los Altos Hills; sisters Sylva Luck and Grace Parrish; 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Services were held Tuesday.
