Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Richard Allen Schmuck accepted medical help in his plan to reach oblivion with sense and mind intact on Dec. 21, 2024, leaving in his and Pat’s bed, covered with Pam’s incredible, colorful quilt that was made with love. Present were Pat, daughter Julie (John), son Allen (Allison), grandson Nicholas (Siobhan), grandson Wally, great-granddaughter Isla, and long-time friends Pam and Rhonda Starling, Joe Wiseman and Bev Melugin.
Dick, after brother Bob, was born to Myrtle and Wally Schmuck, on June 13, 1936, in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. His elementary education took place in west Chicago. His family moved to Dearborn, Michigan, and he went to Dearborn High School, graduating as salutatorian and most outstanding athlete in 1954. He attended Ohio Wesleyan and then transferred to the University of Michigan, where he earned BA in English Literature with high honors, MA in Psychology, and Ph.D. in Social Psychology and a Post-Doctorate with Ron Lippitt on group dynamics, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Pat and Dick fell in love in Ann Arbor when he was 22 and she was 20. Their romance was facilitated by a 10-week letter-writing romance as Dick hitchhiked across Europe on his continental experiential education post BA. One year later, they married. They started their family with daughter Julie in 1965 in Ann Arbor, and completed the family with son Allen in 1968 once they settled in Eugene, Oregon.
Dick taught for 30 years at the University of Oregon, where he became a Full Professor at the age of 31. While there, he taught thousands in the classroom, chaired 135 dissertations, published more than 200 journal articles and 27 academic books. In 1980-81, he was selected for a Fulbright at The Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and attended with his family for the year, living in the Groot Begijnhof. Dick taught at 10 other international universities, was recognized with three outstanding research awards, co-authored with Pat three books (one with eight editions over 25 years) and many consultations and co-authored with Phil Runkel many significant articles and books on their own version of Organizational Development that became well-known in Australia, Asia, Europe, North America, and New Zealand.
His retirement lasted just short of 30 years. Pat and Dick spent the most time at their beautiful Hood River compound on 40 acres at the foot of Mount Hood. They also went back and forth to their beach house in Neskowin, and traveled south winters. Dick and Pat wintered in the warm south of Tucson, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Dick read his 2019 memoir to the family on a wonderful island cruise in the Mediterranean Sea.
Dick and Pat spent much time with family in Oregon with Julie and John and grandsons Wally and Nicholas (Siobhan) and enjoying his 18-month-old great-granddaughter Isla, all from Portland. In Sisters, they enjoyed time with Allen and Allison, as well at their wonderful cabin on the Metolius River. Thanksgiving was always a special holiday to bring family together around the table most often at the cabin in Neskowin. Dick wanted to be remembered as a good father and grandfather, and as witty, direct, empathic, and cooperative. More than anything, he cherished the 66 years he spent together with Pat.
Our last month with Dick was a special time as he remembered certain people and events and many people came to express their love and thanks to him. He made a huge impression and impact on many people’s lives. He will be missed. We also want to share our particular thanks to End of Life Choices Oregon and the hospice nurses who guided us.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date on the land he loved in Hood River.
To plant a tree in memory of Richard Schmuck as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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