Virginia Beach —Allen Gordon Richter, 90, passed away peacefully in his home in Virginia Beach on Sunday, October 29.
Allen was born in Norfolk, Va., on February 7, 1927, to Solomon and Flora Richter. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Beatrice “Bebe” Kaufman (Richter) and Millie Richter.
Allen was a proud graduate of Maury High School, where he was an all-time baseball and basketball star. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox Organization as a star shortstop straight out of high school, but postponed his career to serve in the Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1947 in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Allen reported to the Red Sox in 1947, determined to simultaneously complete his college education in the off-season. Allen attended V.P.I. (Virginia Tech) in 1947, and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami in 1953.
Over the course of Allen’s baseball career, he played shortstop with Louisville, Boston, San Diego and, finally, with the St. Louis Cardinals in Rochester, NY. In 1951, after batting .321 in Louisville, Allen received the minor league allstar shortstop of the year award from Look magazine. He stood alongside Ted Williams and Dom DiMaggio at Fenway Park to receive the award.
Baseball fans loved Allen. In 1950, while playing in Scranton, Pa., Allen received an Oldsmobile from fans as the award for Most Valuable Player. In 1955, he received another new Oldsmobile as a gift from his fans in Rochester, NY. In 1994, a plaque was hung in Allen’s honor at Harbor Park in Norfolk, to commemorate his baseball career.
Following his baseball career, Allen returned to Norfolk, where he hosted the local TV show Spotlight on Sports on WTAR Channel 3 for six years, and began a successful career in both business and real estate. He worked with Fidelity Banker Life Insurance, Ken-Lar Distributing Company, and later, GFI America of Minnesota (Goldberger Foods), where he spent more than 30 years as regional sales manager for national and local restaurant chains. In 1958, Allen founded Richter Realty, Inc., which continues to operate in Virginia Beach today.
Allen’s many affiliations included the Major League Baseball Alumni, Chesapeake Athletic Club, Norfolk Sports Club and Virginia Beach Sports Club; Beth El Temple, B’nai Brith, Norfolk YMCA, Beth El Temple Men’s Club and the Jewish Community Center; National Conference of Community and Justice; Camp Fartherest Out; Wave Church; and The Virginia House.
Allen was also an avid tennis player and a member of the Cape Henry Racquet Club.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 49 years, Ann Fulcher Richter, daughter, Jennifer Leigh Richter, son-in-law, Michael Kozemchak, nieces Margy Shea (Kaufman) and Ilene Kaufman Hart, nephew Terry Kaufman, and grand nieces Nicole Charlet, Jodi Burnley and Chrissy Kaufman, as well as many loving cousins and a host of extended family and dear friends.
Allen will be remembered for his devout faith in the Lord, his numerous contributions to both the Jewish and Christian communities, and his generous spirit. Most notably, he will be remembered for his love for his family, his endless optimism, his unmatched charisma distinguished by a smile that lit up any room he entered and for being “the oldest living teenager.”
Following a private graveside burial officiated by Rabbi Israel Zoberman at Forest Lawn Cemetery, a celebration of Allen’s life will be held at the Holiday Inn North Beach, 3900 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, on Monday, Nov. 6.
Memorial donations to the charity of the donor’s choice. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hdoliver.com.
The family would like to thank the outstanding doctors and nursing staff from Virginia Beach Premier Medical, Amedisys Home Health Care, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, and Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater for their dedication and care for Allen throughout his journey.