Richard Korsakov, 76, a 60-year smoker, died on Friday, December 2, 2016, of complications of lung cancer and COPD. Dr. Davey Daniel and the medical oncology staff at Tennessee Oncology kept him mostly symptom-free for four times as long as the original nine-month prognosis.
His parents, Rose and Solly Korsakov, predeceased him. He died peacefully, without hope or fear of further existence except as remembered by his brother, Allan (Margey), and niece, Elissa, of Houston, Massachusetts, cousins and his acquaintances.
Richard enlisted in the Army Security Agency in September 1962, serving 52 months. After 2,000 hours of interpreter training at the Defense Language Institute and top secret code word clearance, he served three years, mostly abroad. He was discharged as an E-5 with the Army Commendation Medal and other service medals.
After attending public schools in Florida, Massachusetts and Tennessee, Richard obtained his B.A. at Rhodes College (Memphis), M.A. at Boston University, and J.D. at UT Knoxville. He practiced law in Chattanooga from 1969 to 2016, mostly with his partner, Bernard Cohen.
In the 1970s, he participated in Hamilton County politics on the Executive Committee, Primary Board, Young Democrats and State Convention Delegate. He was long a member of several professional associations, including the Orange Grove Research Committee and Sierra Club. Other interests included art, theater, books, languages, religions, history, dance, most music, foods, wines and cognac. Love and life was better than for many.
A military burial was held at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Contributions should be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, Orange Grove Center, WUTC, or other charity.