Richard Haber, a former assistant to the Dean in the 1970s and 1980s, passed away Oct.15 at his home in Kensington. He was 96.
A third generation San Franciscan, Haber had a varied career that included overseeing public affairs and other matters as assistant to the dean of the business school (since renamed Haas School of Business) under Deans Earl "Budd" Cheit and Ray Miles.
“Dick was admired by everyone who had the opportunity to work with him," Cheit said. "He was a key member of the team (that included Ray Miles and Mike Chetkovich) that strengthened the school’s ties to alumni and friends and helped generate the momentum that created today’s thriving Haas Alumni Network.”
Haber graduated from Stanford in 1936 and from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1939. After serving in the Navy, he formed a small company at the introduction of television to rent TVs at hotels and hospitals. He had an active political life serving on the County Democratic Central Committee. From his extensive travels Haber gained an appreciation of other cultures that extended to his final community activity for immigration rights as a member of the Board of the International Institute of the East Bay.
Haber is survived by his wife, Joan; two sons, Tom and Jim; and five grandchildren. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Nov. 21 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heyns Room of the Faculty Club on the UC Berkeley campus.