Richard Charles Hale

Born on December 5th, 1952, in Romford, Essex, United Kingdom, Richard was the son of the late Brian and Jean (née Ellerby) Hale. Growing up with a sharp intellect and a curious mind, Richard boarded at Bishop's Stortford College before attending the University of Essex, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree.

Richard’s life was defined by a spirit of bravery and a willingness to embrace new horizons. After beginning his adult life in London, his career in information technology took him and his growing family across the Atlantic. Together, they built a rich and varied life in the United States, making homes in Long Island, New York; Naperville, Illinois; Brampton, Ontario and Fairfax, Virginia. Each stop brought new adventures, exciting opportunities, and cherished memories, before he and Gail made their most recent move to Wake Forest, North Carolina, to enjoy his well-deserved retirement years closer to family.

Richard enjoyed a distinguished, decades-long career in the technology sector, steering various technical and management roles across a changing IT and software landscape. A respected leader and colleague, he capped off his professional journey at Red Hat, from which he retired in October 2024.

Beyond his professional success, Richard possessed a profound passion for history, fantasy, and tabletop gaming. In the mid-1990s, he channeled this passion into founding The Stuff of Legends (solegends.com). For over thirty years, Richard (known as the Orclord) meticulously cataloged and preserved the history of fantasy miniatures, creating an invaluable, digital archive that became the definitive resource for fans, historians, and enthusiasts globally. His immense dedication to the community culminated this year with the publication of his book, Stuff of Legends, released on July 1st, the date of his passing, by Shaggy Dog Publishing, a crowning achievement that permanently cements his legacy and collection.

Above all his achievements, Richard’s greatest legacy is his family. He was the loving husband of Gail Foster Hale of Wake Forest, North Carolina, with whom he shared nearly 50 years of marriage, caring, and companionship. His legacy of kindness, creativity, and wisdom lives on through his children and grandchildren: Alan Hale and his wife Jessica Stutts of Raleigh, NC; Malcolm Hale and his wife Elizabeth Pittman of Bethesda, MD; Simon Hale and his wife Audrey Hagopian of Pittsboro, NC; and Caitlin Hale of Wake Forest, NC. He was the incredibly proud grandfather of Sophie Pittman-Hale and Atticus Hale. He is also survived by his dear younger brother, Michael Hale, and his wife Laura of North Wales, United Kingdom.

Richard will be remembered as a man of intellect, quiet dedication, and a generous heart. He leaves behind a family who adored him and a global community of hobbyists who remain forever in his debt.

Celebrations of Richard's life will be held at a later date in both the United States as well as the United Kingdom. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you share a memory, raise a glass, or paint a miniature in his honor. If your generosity compels you to do more, donations to Blood Cancer research in his honor are welcomed at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/blood-cancer.html or https://donate.bloodcancer.org.uk/. Alternatively Richard was also an avid supporter of World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org/) and Doctors Without Borders (https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/) and would also be honored with donations to these charities. He was truly the stuff of legends.

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