Dick was born in Houston, Texas in 1947 to Ruth(Ford)Kendrick and Richard A. Kendrick. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Colorado Springs where he graduated from Palmer High School. He graduated from Colorado College, Colorado Springs in 1969 and attended graduate school at UC Davis. He spent a year in Paris, France studying mime at Ecole Jacques Lecoq. He earned his MA degree in Theatre at the University of Northern Colorado where he met his wife, Polly Mikkelson who is a costume designer.
He served as an assistant professor at Colorado College and moved to a similar position at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
He and Polly moved to Easton, PA in 1983. Dick was for decades the designer and technical director at the Williams Center at Lafayette College for over 70 productions.
He retired to exclusively freelance theater set and lighting design forming a company called “Blue Floor” with his friend and business partner, Vicki Neal.
Over his career he designed sets or lighting for many productions at Cedar Crest College, the Pearl Theater (NYC), City Theater Company in Delaware, Lehigh University, the National Shakespeare Company, Wagner College, Northampton Community College and more.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years Polly and a brother David and wife Betty in Idaho.
There will be a memorial next summer to celebrate his life and his many contributions to the Performing Arts.
Liza Mattison
December 7, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Our dear friend of thirty nine years We will always remember his first set at Lafayette College built the year the Williams Art Center opened. A brilliant design for the musical Chicago and so many more.
He will be so missed by his friends and the many students he inspired with his teaching, warmth and dry sense of humor.
Mark Robbins
December 7, 2021 at 5:48 pm
In many ways Dick was the brother that I never had. A few years older but many years wiser. I remember visiting him at his dorm at Colorado College with his brother Dave, when just in high school. It made a very lasting impression on how to focus my scattered thoughts at the time. Many wonderful memories over the years. So many will miss his art, his humor, his skill and his very presence that made those around him, well, just happy.
Martha Johnson
December 8, 2021 at 8:55 am
Along with all his theatre accomplishments, Dick was also a man who was “smarter than gravity.” With Polly’s help, he changed the topography of their little slice of heaven on the Delaware River, one shovel, pick axe and bucket at a time. From what was originally an overgrown cliff face he moved tons of rock, debris and earth, or what they called “The State of Pennsylvania”, to reveal/create decks, terraces, stairways and comfy nooks for morning coffee. Dog walkers and drivers along Highway 611 pause and stare at the beauty that tenacity, hard manual labor and an artist’s eye created.
Carrie Armstrong
December 8, 2021 at 9:19 am
My wonderful Uncle! Thank you for being an amazing tour guide during our travels together and husband to my dear Mz Fedelia.
Beth Seetch
December 8, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Warm and wickedly funny, with talents of all sorts. Best guacamole ever. Thank you, Dick, for your friendship–already much missed.