Richard Herdick was born on 12 August 1927 in Bronx, New York, USA. He was married to Virginia D'Amato May. He died on 8 October 1985 in Catskill, New York, USA.
Was employed as a zoo keeper in The Bronx Park Zoo in the elephant and plains divisions. He often brought home lion cubs, giraffes and other baby animals who could not be taken care of by their mothers.