A. (Almon) Richard "Dick" Turner was an expert on the Florentine Renaissance.

After achieving his master's degree (and doctorate in 1959) in art history at Princeton University (NJ), Professor Turner taught at the University of Michigan, Princeton University, Middlebury College (VT), and Grinnell College (IA). He was appointed director of the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University in 1979, and later became dean of the faculty of arts and science, and director of the Institute for Humanities (NY). He retired from New York University in 2000.

Privately, he was an avid birder who volunteered at the Cape May Bird Observatory. Dick also served as a director of the New Jersey Audubon Society and Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

He died of lymphoma at Cape May, New Jersey.