Kimberly Dawn Rich was born in Huntsville, Texas, to Dale and Cindy (Rich) Long. She spent her early childhood in Lamesa, Texas, then in Marble Falls, Texas, graduating in 1984.

Dawn had a BS in Nutrition from Texas State University in San Marcos and an MS in Research Project Management from North Texas State University’s Graduate School of Biomedical Science in Ft. Worth.

She was running drug studies in a doctor’s office in Dallas when a representative from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York, recruited her to switch sides and run drug studies from the pharmaceutical side. In 2003, she relocated to Westchester County, New York. When she first went to work for Regeneron, the company had 500 employees; when she retired, it had grown to 5000 employees, and her position was as Assistant Director of Medical Writing. Her fortunes rose with the company’s.

She loved New York and enjoyed going down into New York City with friends for dining, shopping, and theater. Fashion was her passion. She loved collecting designer handbags, shoes, and scarves.

She wanted a country house to escape urban life on weekends and holidays so she bought a house in the Catskill Mountains near Woodstock, New York.

When she had to retire in 2025 at the age of 49 due to her cancer diagnosis, she sold her property in New Rochelle and moved into her country house permanently. With the help of the amazing doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and assistance from her mother and stepfather, she lived well for 9 more years, enjoying the beauty and peace of the mountains. Her family was with her when, at age 58, she left this plane of existence.

She is survived by her mother, Cindy (Rich) Long and stepfather, Richard Long of Marlin, Texas and Woodstock, New York, brother John David Rich of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, aunt Nancy Laster of Calvert, Texas, uncle Mike Guderian of Willunga, South Australia, father, Dale Rich of Crossville, Tennessee, and numerous cousins. She was cremated and requested no funeral except for family. She was loved by all who knew her and is greatly missed.