Sunday, June 21, 2009

Ronald Joseph Richard


(January 28, 1950-June 18, 2009)

Ron Richard, 59, died June 18, 2009 at Innvois Health, Fargo, as a result of injuries he sustained in a bike accident on June 1.

Ron, an only child, was born January 28, 1950 to Darlene and Frank Richard in Fargo, ND. He graduated from Moorhead State in 1975 with a degree in English literature and earned an MS at North Dakota State in 1977 in counseling psychology. He worked at the counseling center at Mankato State University in MN and as a family counselor in a pilot program sponsored by HEW for family rehabilitation in Glasgow, MT.

In 1980 he moved to San Francisco where he began a career in banking. He was a systems analyst and project manager for many years at Cal Fed Bank and then Citibank. During that time, he pursued an MBA in accounting at Golden Gate University in San Francisco and earned a certificate in systems analysis from UC Davis.

In 1990 he bought a small house with a large lot on a quiet, tree-lined street in Vallejo, CA. He lived there for many happy years with a large number of companion dogs and cats that he rescued.

Ron was a passionate environmentalist and animal rights activist. He was especially committed to the work of PETA. He took great pride in the simple, Earth-friendly, vegan life that he and his animal family lived, and often commented that they had brought Isaiah’s vision to reality.

In 1995, Ron contracted HIV. He subsequently participated in a five-year study through the UCSF Aids Research Program on the long term effects of HIV medications.

Ron returned to Fargo in 2006, and was very active at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Fargo. In that time he served on the Vestry and as Treasurer for the congregation.

Ron’s final requests were that all financial memorials be made to PETA, but that a more lasting and joyful memorial would be to adopt and promote a vegetarian lifestyle.

Ron is survived by his mother, Darlene Richard of Fargo. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank.

Visitation will be from 6-7 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo, with a prayer service at 7PM Tuesday at Boulger Funeral Home.

The Burial Liturgy for Ron will be held 1 PM Wednesday June 24, 2009 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Fargo.

A vegan lunch will be served by the Fargo Moorhead Vegetarians and Vegans (www.fmveg.org/) following the memorial service.

Burial of ashes will be in the family plot at Holy Cross North Cemetery in Fargo.

2 comments:

LeAnna Lesmeister--Moorhead said...

He'll be dearly missed. He was a kind, compassionate, and helpful man.

Aaron said...

Wow! What a bummer. I worked with Ron at CalFed for a brief period more than 10 years ago. I was just wondering whatever happened to him and found this. How sad! He was an interesting guy, very insightful and, obviously, memorable.