Richard Dresner, age 79, passed away peacefully at home on August 8 in Chappaqua, New York. Born in Brooklyn, Richard (better known as Dick) was a self-made political strategist, pollster, and media consultant nationally known for advising campaigns across the United States and promoting democracy throughout the world. Dick was an adventurer at heart, with a deep belief in the democratic process, who brought passion and humor to all he did and always returned from his travels with captivating stories. Skilled at understanding who votes and why, Dick won awards for the political commercials he created and campaigns he advised. A career that started on the streets of Manhattan led him to campaigns where he advised governors, senators, political parties, and presidents from Sacramento, to Little Rock, to Burlington, to Moscow, Bucharest, Budapest, and Malawi. His most widely shared adventure took place in Moscow in 1996. Dick and a small team of American consultants were hired to advise President Yeltsin’s campaign in Russia’s first free election, at a time when the nation would decide between Yeltsin or a return to communism. Dick and his colleagues helped orchestrate a spectacular comeback for Yeltsin (who at the start of the campaign even trailed Stalin in the polls). Featured on the cover of Time magazine and later made into the movie “Spinning Boris,” the campaign not only marked an important historical moment, it was one of Dick’s favorite topics of conversation for years to come. Dick taught as an adjunct professor at NYU, his alma mater, and held a masters in political science from Columbia University. He also lectured internationally about campaigns and the political process. Survived by his wife Katherine, son Jeremy (Meredith), and three granddaughters, he was a loving companion to Kathie for fifty years and delighted in raising a son who loved baseball as much as he did. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation or take someone you love to the New York Botanical Garden or the Bronx Zoo, two of Dick’s favorite places off the campaign trail. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 18 at 3:30 at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua, New York, 191 S. Greeley Ave, Chappaqua, NY 10514.