In Memoriam — Richard Affleck

The members of the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, along with his many friends and colleagues in the archaeological community, are profoundly saddened by the death of Richard Affleck. Rick passed away following a prolonged illness on September 10. He was 57 years old and leaves his wife Rosalie and father Edwin.

Rick worked as an archaeologist for more than 25 years, and was a dedicated professional who loved his job. After serving in the Air Force, he went to Cook College, Rutgers University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and earned a master’s degree in archaeology from the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, Rick served as a Senior Archaeologist for the URS Corporation, in the Burlington, NJ office, where he was responsible for directing archeological investigations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. Though highly skilled at excavating and interpreting a wide variety of site types, Rick’s particular expertise was in the area of historic archaeology. An avid student of history, he would often spend his vacations visiting historic sites, especially Civil War Battlefields.

One of Rick’s greatest gifts was his ability to “translate” the confusing and at times undecipherable jargon and descriptions used by professional archaeologists into language that the general public could understand and fully appreciate. The finest example of this talent is expressed in his public outreach report on the archaeological investigations of the King of Prussia Inn, in Montgomery County. Rick also took special interest in mentoring the next generation of young archaeologists, as well as sharing his archaeological knowledge with his colleagues. His passion, great sense of humor, and infectious laugh will be missed by all who knew him.