Richard Doss, Former Executive At F&N, Symphony President

Richard Doss may have been an old smoothie playing retail hardball.

But the tall, elegant Illinois native, who died Monday (Oct. 17) of cancer at 65, was a softy at heart.

Although he parlayed a Yale degree and two years in the Air Force into a 28-year career with Marshall Field & Co., including 10 years as a vice president at Seattle's Frederick & Nelson store, Mr. Doss doted on flowers, music and his children.

"I was reminded what a Leo he was - he shared that with my daughter Megan," said his daughter Anne Doss Hardy of Seattle.

"For his last birthday, she made a card, a little lion and a big lion, and he wrote the best thank-you note. He had a big heart and was always brave and generous."

When Hardy or her brother David Doss of New York City had a tough decision to make, they consulted him, knowing he would give wise counsel. She also considered him a role model as a businessperson.

"When I was growing up," she said, "he was dragging me all over the retail stores with him. You could see that although he was respected by people who worked with and around him, he was beloved."

Those qualities also served him as president of the Seattle Symphony in the mid-1970s and of the Arboretum Foundation in the early 1990s.

He neither played an instrument nor gardened. But he appreciated the efforts of those who did.

Former symphony President Buster Alvord said Mr. Doss knew the downtown community well, "which probably was the beginning of our seducing businessmen into supporting the symphony."

"Back when I was president, it was determined we get more businessmen on the board. But one businessman said, `No thanks, that's a women's tea party.' Dick was probably the first of the downtown chiefs that came in."

Born in Monticello, Ill., Mr. Doss hired on at Marshall Field in Chicago as a manager and buyer of women's accessories in 1952.

He loved the travel aspect of it, touring France, Italy and England. He and his wife visited other parts of the world in later years.

He came to F&N, then owned by Marshall Field, in 1970 as a corporate vice president of fashion and merchandising. From 1980 to 1982 Mr. Doss worked in Spokane for Crescent stores, another Marshall Field subsidiary.

After retiring in 1982, he returned to Seattle and worked for Arboretum Foundation, spearheading development of a new visitors center.

Chuck Jenkins, merchandise manager for F&N's food division, called Mr. Doss "an inveterate professional with a high taste level who set high standards."

He said Mr. Doss loved hamburgers but was interested in all foods, particularly desserts, and was always enthusiastic about Frango candies.

"He had a special interest in the food division," said Jenkins, "because he not only liked what it was about but he liked to eat and liked to eat good things. When we came back from Europe, he was always interested in what we'd brought and what was going on in France. I learned a lot from him."

Survivors include Mr. Doss' wife, Barby Doss of Seattle; his daughter and son; and his granddaughters Megan and Emma Hardy of Seattle. At his request, no public memorial will be held.

Remembrances may be made to the Arboretum Foundation, c/o the University of Washington, XD-10, Seattle, WA 98195.