In Memory of Richard T. Kaser

Aug. 29, 1952 – Sept. 13, 2025

Computers in Libraries (CIL) is paying tribute to Richard “Dick” Kaser by dedicating its November/December 2025 issue to his memory. He served as VP of content at Information Today, Inc. (ITI) from 2001 to 2018 and then semi-retired, deciding to continue editing CIL. In his introductory editor’s notes, from CIL’s March 2008 issue, Dick wrote, “If it hasn’t been said that good editors make good publications, then you can quote me on it.” He wasn’t talking about himself, of course, but I think it’s obvious to everyone who worked with him that he came to embody the quote. As VP of content, Dick interacted with almost everyone at ITI, and you’ll see in the remembrances from his colleagues how well-respected and well-liked he was. 

From 2013 to 2018, Dick was my boss. I could go to him with any problem because I knew he would give actionable, no-nonsense advice. When he continued editing CIL after semi-retiring, we became colleagues, and he made what could have been an awkward transition seamless through his willingness to let me take charge and challenge myself in new ways. Although I no longer reported to him, he was always a supportive presence. 

—Brandi Scardilli, now editor in chief, CIL

Usually, when you find me in the pages of CIL, you won’t find me in the pages. I am behind the scenes, tweaking commas and fact-checking. When I write the Noted & Quoted section, I’m usually leaning on other people’s words and knowledge. But for the November/December issue, I’m coming out from behind the semi-colons and em dashes (AI can’t have them—they’re mine) to offer some words on Dick Kaser after his passing.

It was my privilege to work with him for 12 years at ITI. When I first started at the company, Dick was just down the hall from my office. He could usually be found with a cup of coffee in my hand—which I liked immediately. Without coffee, I do not function. Dick could always be counted on for his quick wit, kindness, and humor. He was the rare person who never made anyone feel uncomfortable asking a question or having an opinion. Dick was always open and gracious when I stated how I felt about something and why. He also made me feel capable and valued in my position at ITI. Empowered, I suppose, is a good word too. Dick appreciated the work I did and my intelligence, and he never missed an opportunity to give a genuine compliment. 

When I started writing Noted & Quoted and NewsDesk, he almost always praised my editorial choices, highlighting important issues and not shying away from politics or issues of free speech. He often complimented the quotes I’d chosen, which I always gave careful thought to, because words matter. And how you use words matters too.

When I think about the legacy Dick leaves behind, it is one of strength and kindness and moral fortitude. It is one of intelligence and humor. Some people make you feel important simply by being themselves. That was Dick. I miss him as a colleague and as an ally in the fight against both fascism and disinformation.

—Alison Trotta, managing editor, CIL

Dick occupied the office next to mine for nearly 17 years. I could hear his joyful laugh when he met with his team or when he interacted with people on the phone. I always felt that Dick could handle any issue that came his way with grace and good humor. He left his mark on the company, and the company is better for it. I will miss him.

—Thomas Hogan Sr., president and CEO, ITI

Dick Kaser was a thoughtful leader and a true champion of journalism and meaningful content. He inspired me and all of his colleagues with his integrity, creativity, and generosity. He will be deeply missed, but his impact will endure.

—Thomas Hogan Jr., VP of marketing and business development, ITI 

Working with Dick for more than 2 decades, I found him to be an astute observer of, and a wry commentator on, the human condition. I will miss his keen observations, his clever commentary, his sharp wit, and especially his friendship. Rest easy, bud.

—Bill Spence, VP of information technology, ITI

What will stick with me about Dick isn’t so much a specific incident/event. Rather, it is his directness about any given situation, be it work, life, or politics. He was a man of principles, many of which you could discover just by reading the commentary he posted on the outside of his office door. It’s a tradition the editorial services department carries on to this day.

—Lauree Padgett, editorial services manager, ITI

I was so sorry to hear this terrible news. Dick was definitely one of the best bosses I’ve ever had. He and I started at ITI at just about the same time, so we grew into the company together.

—Owen O’Donnell, senior director, ITI reference group

Fun With Dick & Jane: Many of us grew up with these book characters; Dick and I had lots of jokes in our many years as colleagues and friends jumped on the characters. He and I had so many fun and learning experiences over the years with the many speakers and participants of the tremendous number of events and conferences we programmed and produced. We worked well together, and Dick was one of the best bosses I ever had; and there were only two on that list. We expanded our ITI events and our relationship with the growth of the internet, social media, and our amazing knowledge and information community. We grew our personal relationship as we both dealt with the death of our partners at the same time, traveled and checked out restaurants together, and later as we faced health issues. I will always think of Dick with his many adventures, from Stonehenge and the pyramids, to Monterey, California, Washington, D.C., and Camden, Maine, to his return to Ohio and his family home. Dick will be missed by so many folks. We salute you and your many achievements, Dick, and we will continue to raise a Dewar’s to you, my friend.

—Jane Dysart, program director, ITI, and curator of curiosity, Dysart & Jones Associates 

When I heard that Dick was ill I started to think back to all the years we have known each other and the number of events we worked on together. What a time we had, with lots of different events, different cities, and so many interesting people. It all adds up to a lifetime of making things happen and, best of all, enjoying each other’s company.

—Jean Mulligan, financial controller, ITI U.K. office

I’m so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing. I hadn’t worked with him very much these past few years, but he was always kind, happy to help in any way, quick to offer an encouraging word, and funny. He will be a great loss.

—Sheila Willison, marketing manager, events and circulation, ITI

Dick Kaser became my manager through acquisition. I am certain I was not who he would have hired. I doubt he would have gotten past my resume to an interview. I didn’t fit with his stable of information professionals and we chaffed at that mismatch. We differed in background and management style, and he could not make sense of how I’d ever become the editor of ITI’s EContent magazine. I remember, in those early days, asking him if I could call him Richard. “No,” he replied. “Everyone calls me Dick.” I’ll leave it to you to fill in what went through my head. But over the months that followed, we developed a grudging mutual respect. And ultimately (working together for more than a decade), we built a collegial relationship that is among the best I have ever had. I looked forward to his calls to discuss new challenges he would bring my way, such as the opportunity to lead other publications in ITI’s stable and to develop my skills at event programing. Even more, I looked forward to those events and the time we could work together, side by side, figuring out new solutions to evergreen problems and deciphering emerging technologies and how we could help our audiences understand them and put them to work.

Dick was a man who never shied from the now, the new, or the next. He greeted each day with intellectual energy and agility rounded out with humility and humor. He taught me many things, and I am grateful to have worked with him and to have grown in my abilities and career through his guidance. But most of all I am so lucky to have enjoyed his friendship. Dick, you crazy, brilliant, lovely man: You are missed.

—Michelle Manafy, former editorial director, ITI enterprise group, and now editorial director, Digital Content Next

I will always remember the first time I met Dick when he introduced himself with a “You don’t know me, but I’d like you to write for Computers in Libraries.” In the intervening years, our paths crossed frequently in various contexts including at the ITI conferences and various functions at ALA. Dick was a character, and someone you definitely wanted to know. His smile and laugh just permeated wherever he was. I am fortunate to have known him; he will be greatly missed.

—Frank Cervone, M.L.I.S. program coordinator, San Jose State University 

Dick was welcoming and friendly in a low-key way that made everyone feel included and needed at ITI. His wise “I’ve been there” demeanor made him a trusted mentor without even trying.

—Amy Affelt, director of database research worldwide, Compass Lexecon 

Dick was more than an editor; he was a mentor. He brought me aboard CIL in 2020 after seeing a poster about my research, Lots of Questions About Fake News: How Public Libraries Have Addressed Media Literacy 2016–2018, at the 2019 ALA conference. I loved writing for CIL, and Dick was always supportive of my ideas, so the rest is history. He also pointed me to other opportunities, such as writing essays for ITI’s Library and Book Trade Almanac. Having benefited from his wisdom and guidance, I feel blessed to have known him.

—Suzanne LaPierre, BiblioTech columnist, CIL

Several years ago, then CIL editor Kathy Dempsey recruited me to write a column about the “human” side of building digital libraries. This began a happy association marked by alertness to technology’s full impact, not just on the library profession but also on the whole of our lives. Later on, Kathy moved on to other projects, and Dick stepped in. I had gained a new boss—and another good friend. Anyone who has worked with Dick experienced two remarkable qualities he shared with his team. First, he never lost sight of the fact that librarians are at the heart of society. For that reason, CIL columnists and contributors enjoy an enviable perch to help readers navigate the digital revolution, no matter what turn it takes. Second, he had a great plan for thriving in the face of change, and a simple one too. I summarize it as “Show up, pay attention, and speak your truth.” This was good advice not only for authors but for coping with modern life. In a world of endless commentary, wisdom somehow remains in short supply. But testing bold ideas and sharing results matters more than ever when talk is cheap. Contributors and columnists who kept an eye on fast-moving trends always had a welcome place in CIL’s content. Rigorous, but not tethered to lengthy peer review, the publication has been a trusted guide to the march of digital technology since its inception. Dick also made sure CIL approached information technology not only as infrastructure but as a social process. The magazine is a prime venue for frontline professionals testing practical ideas that to make technology work for people are on their own terms.

Dick was the ideal writer’s boss. Dropping a column in his email inbox always started a lively back-and-forth about the topic at hand, and whatever else was up in our lives. Meeting deadlines—or skirting their boundaries—was a perennial source of humor. With a university career to juggle, I coped by getting my column in early if I could—it was a survival skill. Others took a variety of pathways to stay on course. But it was always wise to keep a weather eye on his wicked sense of humor. Assessing the general state of our timeliness was entertaining, but never at anyone’s personal expense. It was these and other qualities that made Dick a delight to work with and a fine friend. He saw the information society in the abstract but always kept sight of individuals finding their way. Keeping a focus on front-line innovations transformed that abstract vision into a path based on discovery and observation. His editorial legacy bequeaths us far more than high quality content. It doubles as a useful guide to live by: Skip the rhetoric and follow the results. And best of all, report them to a well-informed readership.

—Terence Huwe, Building Digital Libraries columnist, CIL

I met Dick nearly 20 years ago at the Computers in Libraries conference in Washington, D.C., when I was new to the field. He was approachable, generous with his time, and an exceptional editor for CIL magazine. We weren’t close friends—we mostly crossed paths at conferences and online—but he inspired me, as he did so many who had the privilege of working with him. In 2024, Dick invited me to write a column for the magazine. That trust meant a great deal to me. He had a keen eye for detail, an unwavering commitment to quality, and a genuine passion for journalism. He pushed me to sharpen my voice and, in doing so, helped me become a better thinker and writer. Rereading our emails now, I feel proud to have worked with him. Dick’s absence will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him. I will miss him.

—Chad Mairn, From the Innovation Lab columnist, CIL

Too soon, dammit. Too soon.

—Kathy Dempsey, former editor in chief, CIL, and editor, Marketing Library Services

Dick Kaser was my trusted colleague, a supporter of libraries and intellectual freedom, a content expert, and a fervent believer in first amendment rights. He cared deeply about the power of journalism and the value of information and information professionals. He enjoyed life, coffee, and good food. Most of all, he was my friend and I miss him.

—Marydee Ojala, editor, Online Searcher

The ShanachieTour

Always open to innovation, Dick convinced ITI to help sponsor a one-of-a-kind library adventure called the ShanachieTour. It was an RV trip across the U.S., from New York to California, undertaken by three library workers from the Netherlands: Erik Boekesteijn, Jaap van de Geer, and Geert van den Boogaard. Along the way, they stopped at 10 libraries to conduct interviews and make a video documentary, and it culminated in a presentation at the 2007 Internet Librarian conference in Monterey (and a 2008 book/DVD movie of the same name). These images show Dick in the RV in Monterey and him playing the tour’s guitar that the guys gifted to him at the end of the road.

—Kathy Dempsey

R.I.P Dear Friend. So many good memories and moments of great impact not only on my life and career, but on the whole process of library transformation around the world. These photos were taken after the first ShanachieTour in 2007, a trip that was made possible by Dick and Jane and that had a presentation at Internet Librarian that started with an earthquake. There were many happy returns, and Dick and Jane Dysart inspired quite a few unforgettable events such as the musical Library of 2525 and an interview with Paul Holdengraber lying on the couch. Dick, your wonderful personality and spirit will stay with me forever, and I thank you with all my heart for being in my life. Onwards to new horizons and new stories. A Shanachie’s work is never done.

—Erik Boekesteijn, co-author, ShanachieTour: A Library Road Trip Across America