Volunteer Spotlight: Richard Hatcher

By Greta Engel

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiatives, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work, however, would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our volunteers. In this series of profiles, we meet some of the people who give their time to make Phipps possible.

Born and raised in Penn Hills, Richard Hatcher now lives in the Beltzhoover neighborhood of Pittsburgh with his wife, two children and their dog. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hampton University in Virginia. Richard loves plants, traveling and spending time with his friends and family. He has been to every continent in the world, even Antarctica! He really enjoys taking care of his tropical plants, including Crown of Thorns, Angel Trumpet and Dragon Fruit among many others. “I love seeing the tropical plants that are at Phipps in their natural habitats when I travel out of the country,” says Hatcher. Richard loves to give back in his spare time, sharing, “I volunteer and do philanthropy locally with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Autism Speaks.”

In 2017, Richard decided to build a pond in his backyard which got him hooked on plants and gardening. After purchasing pond plants from a local plant guru, Richard visited his home and saw his plant collection. “The tropical plants he kept in his greenhouse blew my mind,” he says. Alongside his passion for plants, Richard started volunteering at Phipps in 2023 as a peaceful escape from the outside world. “All the staff and volunteers genuinely enjoy making Phipps be the work of art it is,” says Richard.

Richard primarily works in the Tropical Forest and Botany Hall Kitchen. In the Tropical Forest, he assists Display Horticulturist Everett Chronowski with morning watering. He also prunes and cleans up where needed. In Botany Hall Kitchen, Richard works with Kitchen Manager Tess Monks and many other great staff, chefs and volunteers to help give students a wonderful time preparing and cooking food. He helps with setup, prep, cooking and cleaning during evening cooking classes. When asked his favorite part of volunteering at Phipps, Richard says, “Phipps is so prestigious. It feels good just to be affiliated with the Conservatory. I love the common ground I share with my fellow Master Gardener's, volunteers and staff. When friends and family come to town, I always try to take them to experience what is going on!” Passionate volunteers like Richard are what continue to make Phipps such a special place.