Richard Hendrie
Board Member
About Richard
Act One: The World of Acting and Spirituality
Rick’s path diverged from the conventional after graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy. Eschewing Yale, he embraced his passion for acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. His tenure there from 1969 to 1974 was not just as a student but also as a member of Stella’s Repertory Company, a unique ensemble formed by Adler. He also became a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist, a spiritual practice that has since been a cornerstone in his life, shaping his beliefs in the interplay of creativity & spirit in daily existence.
Act 2: A Flourishing Career in the Corporate World
In 1975, Rick’s journey took an unexpected turn into chain restaurant promotion and marketing. He built a thirty-eight-year career as the senior marketing officer for diverse institutions, including iconic brands like Fuddruckers and Uno Chicago Grill. He also started his own company, Remarkable Branding tm, to help restaurant, retail and hospitality businesses develop effective marketing and brand strategies. He enjoyed a flourishing side career as a public speaker fluent in the mysterious language of ‘branding’ to address dozens of industry groups and associations. During this second act, he got married, enjoyed parenting two marvelous stepchildren and graduated from New York University with the Founder’s Day Award for consistently superior scholarship over the span of his college career.
Act 3: Embracing Writing and Self-Discovery
It began with the unexpected death of his stepdaughter, then subsequently, his wife. It also heralded the arrival of his muse, Robert, who became his husband in 2008. In 2013, sextuple bypass surgery ended his business career. These events caused him to think about living his bliss and the prospects of a Buddhist afterlife. It also turned him into a fiction writer and led him to GrubStreet. He graduated from GrubStreet’s LGTBQ+ Novel Generator and Novel Incubator programs. Currently revising one novel, Earle’s Last Moment, he is also writing a second novel. As a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist, his practice is dedicated to personal growth and service to others, underpinning his commitment to a life of creativity, courage, serenity, and generosity.