Obituary of Richard Denis Gaines

Richard Denis Gaines, a devoted husband, beloved father, and esteemed lawyer, passed away peacefully on October 10th, 2024, at the age of 80. Richard leaves behind a legacy of dedication, compassion, and humor that will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Richard was born in the Bronx, New York, on May 21st, 1944, and was the eldest son of the late Albert and Edythe Gaines and the only sibling to the late Mallory Gaines. Richard graduated from the Montclair, New Jersey school system, where he carried on his family's legacy of being the "first" of many things. He was the first black class President of both Hillside Elementary School and Montclair High School where he met the love of his life, Camari Tomlin. Upon graduation, Camari went to nursing school and Richard attended the University of Michigan, where they married in his senior year. After graduation, he attended Harvard University Law School, where he was one of only 10 black students in his class. The same year he graduated from Harvard Law School with his J.D., his mother graduated from the Harvard School of Education with her PhD. Richard went on to become a prominent Wall Street lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, with a focus on corporate, international and immigration law. He later became the first black partner at Fenwick, Stone, Davis & West, where his clients included Apple, Pioneer Electronics, Revlon, Häagen-Dazs ice cream and several high-profile international clients. Richard always had an entrepreneurial spirit and eventually left big corporate law to start his own firm launched with several clients who refused to part ways with their outstanding legal counsel. As a member of the New York, New Jersey and American Bar Associations, Richard was admired for his unwavering commitment to justice and his exceptional legal expertise. He appeared in front of the World Court in Amsterdam twice and had clients all over Scandinavia, Europe, and Africa. Throughout his accomplished career, he represented countless clients with integrity and skill, earning colleagues' and clients' respect and gratitude. After his retirement, Richard and Camari moved to their vacation home in Tanglewood Lakes, Pennsylvania, permanently. Always willing to be of service, Richard ran to become a member of the community's Board of Directors and was ultimately named President of the Board, where in addition to his many duties, he headed the legal committee. Richard immediately created a positive impact. He made changes to the rules and regulations that transformed the association into a viable business by tapping into all the tremendous talent in the community. Rick focused on projects that had been either ignored or neglected. From dealing with trees, repairing roads and managing the deer population to implementing environmentally responsible practices, his passion was ensuring that the Tanglewood Lakes community was thriving and sustainable. Beyond his professional achievements, Richard will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband and father. He was married to Camari, his high school sweetheart, for 60 years and created a lifetime of special memories for his four children – Cory, Tami, Daryl and Derek. He cherished his role as a parent and took great pride in nurturing and supporting his children as they pursued their own dreams and aspirations. He was also equally connected to and obsessed with his niece, Amber and grandchildren – Noah, Beau, Haili, Shane, Bria, Trey, Makayla, Marisa, Tyler, Sienna, Julius, Kaleb and his newborn great-granddaughter, Mila. Richard and Camari loved playing golf together and were members of the Paupack Hills Golf Course. He was a huge fan of the Mets and Nets – despite the pain they often caused him during his life! He loved fishing with his brother-in-law, Randy, even though he had no idea how to fish. Richard's kindness, wisdom, and unwavering love will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the community he served. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him. Richard's life will be celebrated on October 26th at Teeter's Funeral Chapel, 505 Church Street, Hawley, PA 18428. Calling hours will be from 10 to 11 AM, with his remembrance service beginning at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Tafton Fire Company & EMS, 235 Route 507, P.O. Box 5, Tafton, PA 18464-0005 in Richard's name. Rick will be dearly missed but never forgotten. May he rest in eternal peace.