Richard Frey

Richard Frey, age 83, of Philadelphia, PA, died on January 27, 2026. Richard was the beloved husband of Diane Dailey Frey for forty-seven years, and she passed away three days before Richard. He was the loving father of Julia Patterson Frey and father-in-law of Jeb Kreager; adoring grandfather of William and Llewyn Frey Kreager; caring brother of Alice Frey Emerson, Susan Frey, and the late Alexander H. Frey Jr. and Charles Frey.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Alexander Hamilton Frey and Alice Hubbard Frey. He grew up in Radnor, PA where he graduated from Radnor High School in 1960. After time in the Army Reserves and a year at Yale University, Richard moved to San Jose, CA and then Greenwood, MS where he worked with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to register Black voters. He lated returned to Philadelphia and received his baccalaureate from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania (1970). After graduating, he moved to Nashville and then New York City, where he was active in the arts and punk rock scenes of the 1970s. There he met Diane and in 1979 they moved to Philadelphia where they raised their daughter Julia.

Richard worked in galleries and arts administration for several years, including many years at The Print Club (now The Print Center) on Latimer Street. However, when he pivoted and became a tour guide of historic Philadelphia, he truly found his calling. The job combined a love of art, architecture, history, and education, and he eventually established his own company, Your Philadelphia Tours. He loved his Center City neighborhood, and he was a familiar sight on his front stoop with his wife Diane. Together they loved everything the city had to offer: museums, orchestras, and experimental companies. They loved raising their daughter Julia and were ecstatic to be grandparents to Will and Llew.

Ever an advocate, he volunteered throughout his life, especially with the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, and he pushed for reform for the underprivileged and underserved until his final days.

A memorial celebration for Diane and Richard will be held in the spring in Philadelphia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, or the American Civil Liberties Union.