Richard Kivie Scotch was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 18,1951 and died in Dallas, Texas on June 2, 2026, from complications of gastric cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Janelle "Jenny" Keller and their daughter, Grace Keller Scotch, an extended family in Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts and Virginia and many friends around the world.

Dr. Scotch was a professor of sociology, public policy and political economy at the University of Texas at Dallas. His teaching included courses on medical sociology, public health, social stratification, and social and health policy, while his research focused on a variety of social policy topics related to disability, health, and education.

Dr. Scotch received his BA with honors from the University of Chicago in 1973 and his MA and PhD in sociology from Harvard University in 1975 and 1982. Prior to joining UTD faculty in 1983, Dr. Scotch served as a Congressional Science Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He has numerous publications on social policy reform and social movements in disability, healthcare, education and human services. As well as many publications of his own, he wrote with others and his 2020 book with Allison Carey and Pamela Block, "Allies and Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities", received "best book" awards from the North Central Sociological Association and the Section on Disability in Society of the American Sociological Association. Dr. Scotch also worked with numerous public and nonprofit health and human service agencies over three decades.

Dr. Scotch retired as Professor Emeritus at UTD in September 2025, and he continued to mentor students as time permitted. He spent time enjoying his family, reading, listening to music, going to jazz performances, dining with friends, and traveling. It was a life well lived. He recently said, " I've had a wonderful life"!

"In lieu of flowers, please donate to the World Central Kitchen."