Gill, Richard T. 1927-2010

Richard Thomas Gill (November 30, 1927 – October 25, 2010) was an American economist and opera singer. He held several teaching and administrative positions at Harvard University over 22 years. He was Assistant Dean of Harvard College, Allston Burr Senior Tutor (Dean) of Leverett House, and Teaching Fellow, Instructor, and Assistant Professor of Economics. In 1963, he received tenure as Lecturer on Economics and Master of Leverett House. Gill was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. Though he did not study voice formally, he was a boy soprano in his church choir and played the clarinet. At 16 he entered Harvard, where he sang in the glee club. He left Harvard to serve in the United States Army where he saw duty during the American Occupation of Japan. After completing his military service, he returned to Harvard, where he completed his undergraduate degree in 1948. He returned to Harvard after doing graduate work in philosophy at the University of Oxford and was named an assistant dean at Harvard at age 21. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the university in 1956.