Richard ?Dick? DeBenedictis is an American composer noted for composing music for television shows including Perry Mason and its movies from 1985 until 1993, Police Story, Columbo, The Rockford Files, Hawaii Five-O, Phyllis, and Dean Hargrove's Matlock, and its spin offs Jake and the Fatman, and Diagnosis: Murder. DeBenedictis has been nominated ten times for an Emmy Award, most recently in 1996, for his compositions. After retiring from television composing, Richard has taught several Master classes in Los Angeles and New York, including California Institute of the Arts, Pepperdine University, Pierce College, Ithaca College, and California Lutheran University. He is the father of Dean DeBenedictis, Brian DeBenedictis, Lara DeBenedictis, and Brent DeBenedictis. 

January 23rd, 1937 in New Milford (Age 87)