Richard Saul Laudor

Richard Saul Laudor, 68, of Riverdale, N.Y. and formerly of New Rochelle, N.Y., died early on the morning of September 30, 2026, at the Wakefield Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx after a brief illness. Richard, a journalist and attorney, worked most recently as a peer counselor for older adults navigating the mental health system.

Richard was born on December 12, 1957, in Manhattan to Charles Laudor and Ruth Gediman Laudor, both of whom preceded him in death, as did his grandparents, James and Pauline Gediman and Max and Frieda Lifshitz. He is survived by his brothers Daniel Laudor and Michael Laudor and his partner Susan Freedman, as well as his uncle Lewis Gediman, Aunt Judith Gediman and first cousins Ian Laudor and Paul Gediman. He also leaves behind a close circle of longtime friends

Growing up in New Rochelle, he attended Daniel Webster Elementary School. He learned to read at age two and in the first grade, his teacher gave him the task of creating a classroom newsletter.

He was editor of his school newspaper at Albert Leonard Jr. High School and was a founder of the alternative newspaper The First Amendment published by students at Albert Leonard.

He was a founder and editor of the community newspaper the New Rochelle Independent

while he was a student at the Three I’s alternative program of New Rochelle High School.

He had a lifelong interest in local politics.

Richard graduated from George Washington University in 1979 with a dual degree in journalism and political science. He served as the Editor of The Pelham Sun, a weekly community newspaper in Pelham, New York, from May 1977 to October 1978.

Richard worked as a staff writer for The Rockland Journal News from 1979 to 1983. He then attended Columbia Law School, graduating in 1987 and had a long career as an attorney (1987–2011) and later worked as a Certified Peer Specialist, with older adults navigating the mental health system.

A lifelong Yankee fan Richard was known for his sharp wit, his encyclopedic knowledge of American politics and his commitment to the Democratic Party. He was passionate about his Jewish faith and attended services in several synagogues in New York City and Westchester County. He was devoted to his friends and family

Richard was kind, thoughtful, very funny and compassionate. He was sincerely interested in everyone he met and collected friends everywhere he went. He never discarded friends.