Richard C. Kosik was born in the Bronx, but growing up in Astoria, he was a schoolyard, streetball, sandlot player in football, baseball and basketball. He began carving out a passion for athletics as a Catholic Youth Organization athlete at Immaculate Conception in Astoria. From there it was on to Manhattan’s Rice High School and then St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, Kansas. 

In 1968, he returned to the Big Apple and started his teaching career with the NYC Board of Education which he retired from in 2003, continuing on to become the Student Athlete Seminar Leader for the NYC Public School Athletic League. Early in his career with the NYC Board of Education, he received his state certification as a guidance counselor through the Graduate Masters program at Hunter College.  His advocacy for counseling student athletes led to his being awarded the prestigious Revson Fellowship “For the Future of the City of New York” by Columbia University. Following his fellowship year at Columbia University, Rich became the N.Y. Executive Director of Athletes for Better Education, later to be renamed the ABCD All-America Basketball Camp. During the next twenty two years, Rich went from his position as the Director of Counseling to being the Academic/Counseling Director and Co-director of the Camp, where he worked with the nations best H.S. basketball players. 

Rich was a nationally recognized motivational speaker who was frequently invited to participate in clinics and sports camps presenting his workshop “Game Plan For Success”.  This past May, Rich was inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame as a contributor to the game of basketball on both the local and national level.

Besides Rich’s passion for education and advocating for student athletes, Rich was a loving and devoted husband and father who cherished his family and friends. Richard is survived by his wife, Eileen; his daughter, Caitlin; his brother, John; his sister-in-law, Marion; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Reposing Thursday, August 18th from 3-7 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Ave. Bronx, NY. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, 6000 Riverdale Avenue Bronx, NY on Friday, August 19th at 10:30 am. Committal private.

In remembrance of Richard Kosik’s life the family asks that any charitable donations be made to The Thomas C. Konchalski Foundation. www.TomKfoundation.org