Richard Delose Ringeisen

Dr. Richard Ringeisen, a resident of Seneca, SC, died February 18th, 2025, after a long and

spirited battle with Parkinson’s. Dr. Ringeisen was born March 18th, 1944, in Kokomo, IN. He

was the son of the late Garold and Thelma Ringeisen of Kokomo, and a devoted husband of

Carolyn Byrer Ringeisen.

Dr. Ringeisen graduated from Manchester University (Manchester, IN) in 1966, and obtained a

Doctorate in Mathematics from Michigan State University in 1970. He spent the first ten years of

his career teaching and doing graph theory research at Colgate University, Indiana-Purdue at

Fort Wayne, and at the Air Force Research Laboratory (Dayton, OH) before settling at Clemson

University in 1979, becoming the Assistant Department Chair at the Mathematical Sciences

Department. Dr. Ringeisen was promoted to Head of the Department in 1988 and served in that

capacity until he left the University in 1993. Throughout his career he continued research and

published in areas including graph embedding, crossing numbers, and maximum genus.

He served as Dean, College of Sciences, at Old Dominion University (’93 to ’96) and Vice

Chancellor for Academic Affairs (Provost) at East Carolina University (’96 to ’01) before

becoming Chancellor at the University of Illinois Springfield where he remained for nearly ten

years before retiring and becoming Emeritus. Chancellor Ringeisen oversaw the University

during a critical period of growth, shepherding the school from it’s two-year, upper-division

institutional roots into a four-year university. Some of his proudest achievements were

spearheading several construction and expansion projects including The Recreation and

Athletic Center, Founders Hall, University Hall, the quad and colonnade, and the Therkildsen

Field Station at Emiquon. His leadership and lifelong love of college athletics drove his desire to

transition UIS from NAIA to NCAA Division II, resulting in both the strengthening of the

University’s athletic and academic stature.

In addition to his college sweetheart and loving wife of 59 years, Rich is survived by two children

and six grandchildren: his daughter Heather Ringeisen Ray (husband Richard, son John

Richard, son Will Tapley, and daughter Mei Lynne of Six Mile, SC) and his son Bradley

Ringeisen (wife Michelle NewRingeisen, daughter Erin, son Addison, and daughter Allison of

Oakland, CA). He is also survived by his sister Shirley Bowman (New Castle, IN) and brother

Ted Ringeisen (Kokomo, IN).

Rich loved life in so many different ways. He especially loved to watch and play athletics, and

he was the first to say he was “average” at almost any sport. His favorites were playing

basketball, running, and golf but he also coached his children’s athletic teams from basketball to

softball. He was also a religious man, having been a member (’80 to present) and past Board

Chair of University Lutheran Church (Clemson, SC). He was also a member of The Walker

Course where he lost many balls, laughed in fellowship, and had some of his fondest memories.

He was also an avid sports fan of all Clemson athletics, especially football and basketball, where

he and Carolyn had season tickets. He was also a member of the Clemson Fellowship Club

where he treasured conversations and time with friends.

There will be a celebration of life service at a later date to remember Rich’s life and legacy once

the family is able to find a time to come together. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that

donations be made to: the Michael J. Fox Foundation, University Lutheran Church (111 Sloan

St., Clemson, SC 29631), and University of Illinois Springfield Ringeisen Scholarship Fund

(University of Illinois Foundation, PO Box 734500, Chicago, IL 60673-4500).

Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home is assisting the family.