Naseby Rhinehart Obituary

Naseby Rhinehart, Jr.

September 2, 1936 - April 1, 2025

Rhinehart, Jr., Naseby, former AT&T regional comptroller and Lucent Technologies executive, expired in Westchester, New York, from complications related to Parkinson's on April 1, 2025. He was 88 years old. Nicknamed "Pete" by his family's next-door neighbor, Naseby was born in Missoula, Montana, on September 2, 1936. He was the eldest child of Evelyn Coleman, head chef of the Frontier Lounge, a high-end steakhouse, and Naseby Rhinehart, Sr., first athletic director with the University of Montana at Missoula and founding member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

Pete graduated from Missoula County High School on June 3, 1954, and attended the University of Montana, graduating with a degree in business administration on June 8, 1959. A stellar athlete, Pete was named captain of the university's track team and played three seasons of college football, which included time spent at the Philadelphia Eagles training camp as a defensive halfback in Hershey, Pennsylvania, during 1958.

After graduation, Pete headed to Milwaukee to work for Wisconsin Bell Telephone, became a certified public accountant and married Vivian Folling Dorsey, a schoolteacher and daughter (actually niece) to James Weston Dorsey, partner of Dorsey & Reneau, Milwaukee's first African American law firm, which specialized in criminal, labor, and civil rights cases. Dorsey, who trained under George H. Woodson, first president of the National Bar Association, was a close friend of Naseby Sr. and a university alumnus. Pete spent most of his days building his corporate career, balancing the books of small minority business owners, raising their only daughter, Vivian, and visiting close friends and family in and around Milwaukee, after the contemporaneous deaths of his wife and father-in-law on May 11, 1966.

In 1978, he transitioned from an internal auditor at Wisconsin Bell Telephone to become an assistant regional comptroller for AT&T in New York City, eventually rising to chief financial officer for the corporation when it was at its apex. While there, he met and married his second wife, Beverly Richards, a former publicist for the Monsanto Corporation and niece to Dr. George D. Cannon, a noted Harlem radiologist. Together, they raised their daughter, Robyn, and shuttled between their homes in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and East Hampton, New York.

Highly driven, Pete was credited by AT&T corporate leadership for developing methods and procedures used to assign assets and liabilities of the Bell System during the company's divestiture. Former colleagues noted his exemplary people skills and willingness to address diversity in the workplace. This distinction also resulted in Pete being the first male employee to receive the annual Women of AT&T Management/Executive Award from the Women of AT&T in 1995. Pete was also active in the AT&T Foundation and sat on the board of directors of Hackensack Medical Hospital in Hackensack, New Jersey. In retirement, he was involved with St. Paul's Episcopal Church and the Rainbow Yacht Club, both located in Englewood, New Jersey.

Pete is survived by his daughters, Vivian Rhinehart and Robyn Rhinehart-Williams of New York City; sister-in-law, Shirley Peshina-Rhinehart; his sons-in-law, Arnold Marshe and Justin McLaughlin Williams; including his four grandsons: Douglas Marshe, Jaylen, Miles, and Langston McLaughlin Williams. Beverly and his stepdaughter, Karen Kendle-Marshe, predeceased him in 2020 and 2012, respectively. Pete will be greatly missed by his siblings; Vodie Ann Bates-Herrin of Glendora, California, Sidney Rhinehart of Nisswa, Minnesota, Penny Rhinehart of Pasadena, California, his niece and nephew; Deandra Bates of Glendora, California and Leverette Bates of Missoula, Montana and first cousins; Beverly McMurray and Danna Rhinehart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Charitable donations in lieu of flowers and gifts are strongly encouraged by the family. Charitable donations can be made payable to The University of Montana Foundation and noted for a gift in memory of Naseby (Pete) Rhinehart, Jr., for the Naseby and Evelyn Rhinehart Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship-6VE.

Checks should be mailed to The UM Foundation, Post Office Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159 or friends may give online www.SupportUM.org and note in the "Comments" section that the gift is in memory of Naseby (Pete) Rhinehart, Jr., for the Naseby and Evelyn Rhinehart Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship-6VE. The Foundation staff is happy to assist with credit card, check, or money order donations. To contact the Foundation, call 406-243-2593 or 800-443-2593.