Richard Edward Wolf Jr.

Richard Edward Wolf, Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026, at the age of 84. Rick was born on March 22, 1941 in Philadelphia, PA to his parents, Richard and Margaret.

Rick is survived by his wife of 43 years, Julie Wolf; his three children, Sarah Crispi, Daniel Wolf, and Rebecca Foreman; his three grandchildren, Theo, Maya, and Lola; and his two siblings, Susan Kaufman and William Wolf.

Rick grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Walnut Hills High School. He attended the University of Cincinnati, obtaining a Ph.D. in Microbiology in 1970, and did his postdoctoral studies at Harvard Medical School.

Rick was a longtime faculty member of the UMBC Department of Biological Sciences and taught at UMBC for over 40 years. Rick’s research focused on the mechanism of gene regulation, using E. coli as the model system. Rick was instrumental in developing programs at UMBC, including an undergraduate major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a Master’s degree program in Applied Molecular Biology. Rick derived great pleasure in mentoring his undergraduate and graduate students and took particular care in teaching young scientists how to conduct research and read academic papers. Most of all, Rick loved his vocation—in his words, “I don’t go to work, I go to play.”

Rick was an avid sports fan and was a consistent presence at Oriole Park. Rick loved music, with interests ranging from opera and classical to jazz and ragtime.

His legacy endures in the family he unconditionally loved and cherished, the many students he supported, the academic programs he created, and the research he conducted.

Rick’s life will be celebrated at his home on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard E. Wolf, Jr. Doctoral Dissertation Prize Endowment, https://give.umbc.edu/campaigns/41278/donations/new?a=7548658, which recognizes exceptional dissertation research that has made significant contributions to disciplines within the biological sciences.