Richard (Dick) Harcourt September 17, 1931-April 9, 2020
In 2019, Monash University’s first PhD graduate, Richard (Dick) Harcourt completed an advanced-care directive in which he stated: “Laughter is the best medicine.” It was a comment that reflected his approach to life.
Dick was born in Caulfield, the elder of two children to Sam Harcourt (formerly Harkowitz) and Cora (nee Sloman). His younger sister, Diana (later Diana Kidd), was the award-winning author of children’s books such as “Onion Tears” and “The Fat and Juicy Place.”
His family was Jewish. His ancestors came to Australia in the 19th century from England, France, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. His mother was a member of the Isaacson family, who were some of the earliest European settlers at Stawell. His father’s family lived in NSW, where, among other enterprises, they ran the aptly named paddle steamer “The Wandering Jew” on the upper Darling and Barwon rivers carrying wool and selling everything, so it was claimed, from “a needle to an anchor”.
After primary school in Sydney and Melbourne – including early “success” as grade six dux of Ripponlea State School – Dick completed his secondary education at Wesley College, a school also attended by his cousins, the pioneering cardiologist Graeme Sloman AO, the renowned economist Geoff Harcourt AC and committed dental educator John Harcourt OAM. Dick formed lifelong friendships at school and threw himself into tennis, cricket and football.
Read the obituary by Pierre Harcourt in The Sydney Morning Herald.