Background
Richardson was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, the daughter of Evelyn Mary (née Kaplan) and John Francis Flavin.
Richardson was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, the daughter of Evelyn Mary (née Kaplan) and John Francis Flavin.
She was a magna cum laude graduate in 1971 of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. She formed the New Mexico Immunizations Coalition in April 2003. Their goal was to immunize 90 percent of New Mexico"s children by 2010.
She is also the New Mexico chairperson of Read Across America.
Also active in efforts to combat domestic violence, she helped to open a shelter for abused spouses in a corner of the state where such services had been nonexistent. In addition, she runs an annual bowling fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.