Richard “Dick” Lance was born in Geneva, Illinois in 1931 and passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2022 peacefully at home surrounded by his family.
He was Professor Emeritus of Cornell University College of the Engineering Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, a vocation he loved; teaching was his calling.
Dick is survived by his wife of 69 years, Virginia “Ginny” Lance; his three children, Cathy Lance (Christopher Dilger), Julie Lance (Steve Ball), and Fritz Lance (Kelly Kaufman Lance); and five grandchildren, Virginia Carroll (Bobby), Kristen Lance (Hilary Gram), Zach Ball, Erin Ball, Sandrine Lance Duboscq. He also has one great-grandchild, Cass Gram Lance.
Dick and Ginny retired to Chestertown in 1998. Dick was deeply involved with the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning and an avid photographer.
From 1969 – 1973, Dick was Ben Bachrach’s advisor in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at Cornell University for both his Masters Degree and PhD. Without Professor Lance’s encouragement and enthusiasm, Ben would not have completed his PhD program that led him to be a research engineer at Ford Motor Company.
The following outlines Dr. Lance’s research interests.