Andrew Booth Kirkpatrick, Jr. died January 18, 2014 at the age of 85. Born January 16, 1929, in Asheville, North Carolina, to Andrew Booth Kirkpatrick and Gertrude Ingles Kirkpatrick, he graduated cum laude from Davidson College in 1949, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1954 he received an LLB magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review and the Lincoln’s Inn Society.
During the Korean War, in 1951-53, he served to 1st Lt. in the Army, primarily with the 31st Infantry Regiment. He received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Army Commendation Medal.His professional career began as law clerk to Chief Judge John Biggs, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Thereafter he worked over 40 years with the Wilmington law firm of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, principally in litigation, until his retirement when he became Of Counsel to the firm.Active in legal affairs broadly, he served for 8 years as Chairman of the Delaware Supreme Court’s Censor Committee (now the Board on Professional Responsibility). He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Law Institute and the American Bar Foundation. He held various posts, including that of President, with the Delaware State Bar Association.
In June 1991 he received an Award from The American Judicature Society for “his outstanding contributions to the improvement of the administration of justice.” He was profiled in “Who’s Who in America” for many years.He served actively in public affairs. He was President of the Active Young Republicans of New Castle County and a leader in William V. Roth’s early campaigns for office.In community activities, he was Chairman of the Kennett Pike Association, and Chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Organized Crime. He served on the board of the Delaware Academy of Medicine and as a Director of Wilmington Trust Company.
He also served on the board of Wilmington Country Club and was a member of the Wilmington Club and Vicmead Hunt Club. In 1999, for his “meritorious service on behalf of the citizens of the State of Delaware,” he was awarded the Governor’s Order of the First State.He was a Trustee of The Tatnall School and later a Trustee of Unidel Foundation. He also served as a member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware. Upon his retirement from that Board in December 2003, he was the second person to be named “Honorary Counselor to the Board of Trustees” in recognition of the Board’s “deepest gratitude and appreciation [for his] outstanding service as a member from 1982 to 2003 and as its Chairman from 1988 to 1999.”He enjoyed spending time boating on the Chesapeake Bay with his family, fine dining and other many and varied interests.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Frances C. Kirkpatrick, and their three children, Christine Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Melissa Richmond and Charles Kirkpatrick, his two grandchildren, Alex Stephanie Richmond and Andrew Richmond, as well as his sister, Mrs. Marianne Cameron, all of Wilmington, Delaware and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews.Burial will be private on Friday, January 24 at Lower Brandywine Cemetery.
A Celebration of Andy’s Life is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, any contributions are requested to be made to the University of Delaware at http://www.udel.edu/giving/ or mail contributions to Development and Alumni Relations, Gifts Receiving and Processing, Office 83 East Main Street, 3rd Floor Newark, DE 19716.