Richard Osgood – 50th Reunion Essay

Richard Osgood

345 N Canal St, Apt 405

Chicago, IL 60606

osgood1@mindspring.com

312-501-3576

Spouse(s): Barbara Clayton (1968/5yrs), Dorothy Valin (1975/29yrs), Wendy Wasson (2003)

Child(ren): Kirstin (1970), Katie (1978), Rebekah (1982) Keren (1984)

Grandchild(ren): Averill Gifford (2015), James Ashton (2018)

Education: Yale BS 1969, Yale Divinity MAR 1971, Northwestern PhD 1994

Career: Academic Computing(Yale, 10 years, UNext, 2 years), Technology Marketing (IBM, 15 years, Accenture, 5 years), Business Consultant (18 years)

Avocations: Service: Classical and Baroque Music, Fair Election Support, and Elder Issues. Hobbies: Theater, Symphony, Opera, Artificial Intelligence, Web-Programming, and Travel Photography.

Outdoor Activities: Camping, Cycling, Hiking, Canoeing, Kayaking, and X-Country Skiing.

College: Jonathan Edwards

Here’s what I’ve been up to since my Yale years. Professionally, after graduation, I worked for the University computer center for ten years. While working there and building a couple of products for IBM, they recruited me to join them which I did for 15 years. While at IBM in marketing and building yet another product for them in my spare time. I received leave at full pay to get a PhD in Computer Science. I started back at Yale and finished at Northwestern University, since my advisor moved there. Following that, Accenture, which funded the university institute where I studied, invited me to join them. After five years there, UNext, an online university, recruited me to join them to build their web-based MBA program. Finally, after many years in mid-size and large organizations, I spent the final 18 years of my professional life as an independent management and technology consultant, doing leadership development school transformation work and educational software development.

On the personal side, I have four amazing daughters who have all found their way to adulthood and meaningful professions without any more than the usual amount of travail. They are (in order) a marketing professional, special education teacher, OB/GYN physician, and healthcare business analyst, all with advanced degrees. Two of them have given me grandsons, my first experience of male children—I came from an all-female family. I travel a good deal of the time now. And find myself visiting friends, family, visiting beautiful places, camping, hiking, cycling, kayaking, and skiing.

So, it’s been 50 years since graduation. My years at Yale taught me a few things: Go further than you think you can. Seek what’s so. Occasionally admit that you’re wrong or you don’t know. Ask for directions. Give back. Support the arts. Get involved. Most importantly, spend time with people. They matter more than you will ever know.

It’s been a good run. Yale has been a big part of it. I have no regrets.