Richard W. Goldman is a name that appears in biographical and historical records, but it is important to distinguish him from other people named Richard Goldman. Public records mention a lawyer named Richard W. Goldman who worked as a partner at the law firm Hunton & Williams and previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. His life and career are separate from those of the better-known philanthropist Richard N. Goldman, who helped establish the Goldman Environmental Prize.
Understanding Richard W. Goldman’s background requires careful attention to the available historical information. Although some details about his legal profession and family have been reported publicly, a complete biography is not readily established by the sources available. This article explains the documented details while separating them from information about other people who share the Goldman surname.
These details are drawn from a historical obituary published by The Washington Post and should not be confused with information about other individuals named Richard Goldman.
Early Life and Personal Background of Richard W. Goldman
Richard W. Goldman was an American legal professional whose life was documented in a historical obituary published in October 1989. The report identified him as a lawyer who had built a career in public service and private legal practice. According to the available record, he died on October 18, 1989, at the age of 42, at George Washington University Hospital.
Information about his childhood, parents, and early interests is limited in the sources currently available. It would therefore be inaccurate to provide specific details about his upbringing or personal experiences without reliable evidence. His professional record nevertheless offers a starting point for understanding his place in the legal community.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard W. Goldman |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Known professional role | Partner at Hunton & Williams |
| Previous position | Assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. |
| Reported death | October 18, 1989 |
| Reported age at death | 42 |
| Spouse | Susan Sachs Goldman |
| Children | Three, according to his obituary |
| Nationality | American, based on available biographical reporting |
Richard W. Goldman’s Education and Legal Career
Work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney
One of the notable details about Richard W. Goldman is his reported service as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. This position involves representing the federal government in legal proceedings and handling cases brought under federal law. The role generally requires strong legal knowledge, careful preparation, and the ability to present arguments in court.
Public service as a federal prosecutor can provide valuable experience in understanding how laws are enforced and how the justice system operates. Although the available historical record identifies Goldman as having held this position, it does not provide a complete account of his cases, responsibilities, or achievements while working in government.
Partnership at Hunton & Williams
Richard W. Goldman was also identified as a partner at Hunton & Williams, a law firm known for its legal services to businesses and other clients. Becoming a law firm partner typically reflects professional experience, responsibility, and a significant level of trust within a legal practice.
His reported transition between government service and private practice illustrates two different areas of legal work. Government attorneys represent public interests, while lawyers in private firms advise clients on legal matters and help them understand their rights and obligations.
However, detailed information about Goldman’s specific legal specialties, major cases, and contributions to the firm remains limited. It is best to distinguish these confirmed professional details from assumptions about the precise nature of his work.
Professional Reputation and Contributions
Richard W. Goldman’s reported legal positions suggest that he worked in a profession requiring sound judgment, confidentiality, and a strong understanding of legal procedures. Experience in both government and private practice can expose an attorney to different perspectives on the law, from public accountability to individual and business interests.
Nevertheless, a professional biography should rely on verifiable information rather than general descriptions of what a lawyer might have accomplished. The available record does not provide enough detail to identify particular landmark cases or claim that Goldman introduced specific legal reforms.
His career remains a subject where additional records, such as law firm archives, court documents, professional directories, and contemporary newspaper reports, could provide a clearer picture. These materials would help establish the full scope of his work and the impact he may have had on colleagues and clients.
Richard W. Goldman and His Family
Marriage and Children
Historical reporting identifies Susan Sachs Goldman as Richard W. Goldman’s wife. The same account indicates that they had three children: Daniel Sachs Goldman, William Sachs Goldman, and Alice Rebecca Goldman.
Family information adds a personal dimension to a professional biography. It helps readers understand that a person’s life extends beyond career achievements and public responsibilities. However, details about the family’s private life, relationships, and experiences should not be assumed when reliable public information is unavailable.
Keeping Family History Accurate
When researching Richard W. Goldman, it is particularly important to verify family relationships before connecting him to other people with the Goldman surname. Shared surnames do not establish a family relationship, and different individuals may appear in similar searches because of overlapping names.
A careful approach to family history involves checking dates, spouses, children’s names, professional affiliations, and original historical records. These details help prevent unrelated biographies from being combined into a single account.
Richard W. Goldman and Richard N. Goldman: Understanding the Difference
One common source of confusion is the similarity between Richard W. Goldman and Richard N. Goldman. The latter was a prominent American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Goldman Environmental Prize with his wife, Rhoda Haas Goldman. He also established Goldman Insurance Services and helped create the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund.
Richard N. Goldman was born in 1920 and died in 2010 at the age of 90. His public legacy includes financial support for environmental protection, education, arts, and charitable organizations. The Goldman Environmental Prize became internationally recognized for honoring grassroots environmental activists who work to protect the natural world.
These accomplishments belong to Richard N. Goldman, not automatically to Richard W. Goldman. Their middle initials, professional backgrounds, and documented life histories are important when determining which individual a particular source describes.
For readers researching Richard W. Goldman, this distinction is essential. Accurate identification ensures that information about philanthropic awards, charitable foundations, or business achievements is not incorrectly attributed to the lawyer.
The Importance of Historical Records in Richard W. Goldman’s Biography
Historical biographies often contain gaps, particularly when the person being researched did not maintain a large public profile. Newspaper obituaries, legal directories, professional records, and archived documents can preserve useful information, but they may not explain every stage of a person’s life.
Richard W. Goldman‘s available biography provides several useful details about his profession, marriage, children, and death. At the same time, it leaves unanswered questions about his education, early career, individual cases, and wider professional influence.
Readers should treat these gaps as opportunities for further research rather than reasons to fill the story with unsupported claims. Reliable biographies become more useful when they clearly separate documented facts from interpretation.
Final Thoughts
Richard W. Goldman’s biography offers a glimpse into the life of an American lawyer who reportedly served in federal legal work before becoming a partner at a private law firm. Available historical reporting also preserves basic details about his family and death.
Although many aspects of his life remain insufficiently documented, careful research can help build a more complete picture over time. The most important point is to keep his story distinct from that of Richard N. Goldman, the well-known businessman and environmental philanthropist. Doing so helps preserve the accuracy of both biographies and gives readers a clearer understanding of the individual they are researching.
Frequently Asked Questions About Richard W. Goldman
Who was Richard W. Goldman?
Richard W. Goldman was an American lawyer reported to have worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., and as a partner at Hunton & Williams. Historical reporting states that he died in October 1989 at the age of 42.
What was Richard W. Goldman known for?
He was known professionally for his work in law, including reported service in the federal government’s legal system and private practice. Detailed records of his individual cases and professional achievements are limited in the sources available.
Who was Richard W. Goldman’s wife?
Historical reporting identifies his wife as Susan Sachs Goldman. The same report lists three children from their family.
Did Richard W. Goldman work at Hunton & Williams?
Yes. The available obituary identifies him as a partner at Hunton & Williams, following his reported service as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.
When did Richard W. Goldman die?
According to the historical obituary, Richard W. Goldman died on October 18, 1989, at George Washington University Hospital. He was reported to be 42 years old.
Was Richard W. Goldman the founder of the Goldman Environmental Prize?
The available sources do not establish that Richard W. Goldman founded the prize. The documented founders were Richard N. Goldman and his wife, Rhoda H. Goldman, who established it to recognize grassroots environmental activists.
What is Richard W. Goldman’s legacy?
His documented legacy is primarily connected to his legal career and family history. More information from archived professional records and contemporary reporting would be needed to assess his broader influence on the legal profession.
1 Comment
Pingback: Mary Fielding Smith Biography, Family, Faith, and Legacy - Paperomagazine