March 15th 2024

Remembering Dr. Richard “Rick” W. Niemeier

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of retired National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employee, Dr. Richard “Rick” W. Niemeier, who worked for NIOSH for 36 years.

Rick joined NIOSH in 1976 as an Inhalation Toxicologist in the Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science. In 1986, he became the Deputy Division Director of the Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer (DSDTT). He became the Division Director of DSDTT (later became the Education and Information Division (EID)) from 1988 to 1996. During his tenure as Division Director, he was responsible for the development of several occupational safety and health standards. He also led NIOSH through its effort to quickly update Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs), in support of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 1988-1989.  After stepping down from the Division Director role, he served as a Senior Scientist, and later as the first Associate Director of Science for EID.  Up until his retirement in 2012, he was actively involved in generating new science to protect workers. He served on several national and international committees, was a NIOSH expert on chemical and biological terrorism, and was involved in many other activities that ultimately bettered the lives of workers around the world. Rick collaborated on countless NIOSH publications and peer-reviewed publications during his career, had three HHS Secretary’s Awards for Distinguished Service, a nomination for the NIOSH Charles C. Shephard Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award and was selected as a member of the prestigious Collegium Ramazzini (an independent, international academy of physicians, scientists, and scholars).

Rick (“Pa” to his family) loved and cherished his family. He was a wonderful father to his 3 children (identical twins Becky & Chrissy, and son Todd) and 3 grandchildren (Micah, Maggie, and Katie). He and his wife of 58 years (Carole) tragically lost their twin daughters to cancer in 1984 and 1996. From these losses, he had a unique perspective on the fragility of life and lived life to the fullest. He raised and adopted his grandchild Micah, after Micah’s mother’s death. He inspired his children and grandchildren to work hard, to pursue their aspirations, and to use their talents, skills & knowledge to help others. Both Todd and Micah now work at NIOSH; and Rick, Todd, Micah, and Maggie (in April) are graduates of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Rick was just as passionate about his hobbies as he was his work. He was an excellent guitar player, woodworker, and outdoorsman. He built a log home in the woods and tended to it for 28 wonderful years. He was passionate about education, especially developing the skill and care of nursing professionals like his daughter Becky, who was an oncology nurse. Even through his illness, he was teaching nursing students about lung physiology!  In lieu of flowers, Rick has asked for donations to the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, to support nursing students with emergency financial tuition needs; or to the Barkley, Bell, and Bingham Fund, to support under-represented trainees in the Industrial and Environmental Hygiene Program at the University of Cincinnati.