Richard T. Hagen of Clifton, NJ, took his final bow at the age of 72 on September 20, 2026. The son of Richard T. Hagen and Aileen Hagen, he was raised in Wayne, NJ, and took an interest in music at an early age. He went on to study performance at Montclair State University before embarking on a storied career that saw him play history's greatest music at the world's best recognized theaters and concert halls.

One of New York City’s busiest French horn virtuosi, Mr. Hagen performed as a member of the New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, and the Lincoln Center Festival (formerly known as The Mostly Mozart Festival) Orchestras. He also performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the New York Pops, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Little Orchestra Society, and the New York Choral Society. On Broadway, he performed in shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Into the Woods, Jerome Robbins Broadway, Shogun, Sunday in the park with George, and Fiddler on the Roof. He recorded with RCA/BMG, EMI/Angel, Delos, and Nonesuch and performed on the soundtracks of numerous films including Wolf, Beauty and the Beast, Cape Fear, Shining Through, Aladdin, Interview with the Vampire, Hudsucker Proxy, Pocahontas, A Time to Kill, and Michael Collins.

However, Mr. Hagen's particular way of seeking joy in life will echo past even his most resonant musical note. "Uncle Ricky" was a natural comedian—bringing a boisterous combination of off-the-cuff quips and well-worn one-liners that could make anyone feel like his favorite co-star. He had an insatiable curiosity about life—throwing himself with fascination into subjects from motorcycles (he was an avid rider for decades) to Japanese culture (he became a devotee after touring there) to American history (leading to a particularly memorable family trip to Gettysburg). As a member of a Volkswagen family, Mr. Hagen drove their automobiles almost exclusively throughout his life, and there are notorious pictures of family gatherings with nothing but VWs crowding the driveway.

Mr. Hagen was deeply spiritual and had an active relationship with his faith that included worship with the community of Grace Presbyterian Church in Montclair, NJ. He was an uncommonly generous person—going to great lengths to lessen burdens he encountered among family and friends but also often among those he did not know as well. Mr. Hagen's daughter says that she will always seek to emulate his selflessness. Meanwhile, Mr. Hagen's son would like to note that he has long considered his dad a fellow citizen of NYC in every way other than postal address.

Mr. Hagen is survived by his beloved wife Barbara, his dear children Paul Hagen with his husband Justin and Beth Armstrong with her husband Jacquan and their children Juliana and Benjamin, as well as a brother Glenn and a sister Lynn with their families. 

The family is planning a private celebration of his life later this year.