Richard Marius Tempero

Richard M. Tempero died October 24, 2022, at age 85.

Dick, as he was fondly known to friends and family, was inducted into the College in 1994. He was an avid learner and took strides early in life to educate himself, broaden his perspectives, and reach new horizons. He received his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1962. He spent the next 30 years in various roles and facets of law from courtroom practice to executive and administrative positions until his retirement in the mid-1990s.

He was politically active and committed to good government and social justice. Highlights of his career include: beginning his career in private practice with Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather in Lincoln, NE; Director of the Economic and Law Student Division for the American Bar Association in Chicago, IL; working with a computer-oriented consulting company in Palo Alto, CA; associate director of field organization for Common Cause in Washington, DC; and minority counsel for the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. In 1977, he moved his family to Des Moines, IA, to be the administrative partner for Davis, Hockenberg, Wine, Brown, Koehn & Shors and then became the Executive Director of the Association of Legal Administrators (which included a several-year commitment to a weekly commute from Des Moines to Chicago, IL), and ended his career by leading the Des Moines Charter Commission effort to unify the governments of the City of Des Moines and Polk County.

He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his two brothers. He leaves behind his loving wife, children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

The family is grateful for all the support and care from friends, neighbors, medical professionals and others who helped during his difficult journey.