Philip Dewey Rich

Philip D. Rich, 86, of Pittsfield, died February 14, 2026, after a long illness.

He was born February 1, 1940, in Nashua, NH, the son of John Parker Rich and Olive Frances (Hussey) Rich. As a youth Philip studied at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and later attended Harvard College, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1961. After earning a master’s degree in publishing from New York University, he spent a decade as an editor at Houghton Mifflin in Boston, fifteen years as managing editor at Book Creations in Canaan, NY, and ten years as managing editor at Berkshire House Publishing in Stockbridge, MA.

He is survived by his brother, John, of Garden Valley, ID, his former wife, Leslie Rich, of Lanesborough, nieces Stephanie Nunner of Santa Fe, NM, and Susan Rich of Venice, FL, and nephew John Davis Rich of North Port, FL. In his later years he was sustained by longtime friends Glenn and Sarah Novak of Richmond, MA, Robert Barnes, also of Richmond, and Donald Thomas of Pittsfield.

A learned and gentlemanly soul, a lover or music, and a faithful and generous friend to all who knew him, Mr. Rich will be sorely missed.

Interment in a family plot in Edgewood Cemetery New Hampshire will be at a later date.