May 6, 1931 ~ May 18, 2012
MONTEREY - Richard Paul McDermott passed away peacefully on May 18, 2012. His family was with him at Sunrise Senior Living where he had been cared for during the past year.
Dick was born to Muerl and Paul McDermott in Oakland, California at Merritt Hospital May 6, 1931. His parents and his brother, Terrance [OHS, 1955], predeceased him. Dick attended Glenview Grammar School and Oakland High School. Dick received an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, however he chose to go to University of California at Berkeley entering the NROTC program. While he was at Cal, he was an All American rifleman and team captain. He earned a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Industrial Engineering. He chose to pursue a career in the Marine Corps, however just before graduation his commission was revoked due to a previous injury. After his graduation in 1953, Dick married his longtime sweetheart, Patricia Hayes. He was drafted into the Army as a private in 1953. He spent two years in the Army Medical Corps and eventually left the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Reserves in 1955.
Dick and Pat returned to the Bay Area after leaving the service and settled in San Francisco where Dick went to work for the Bethlehem Steel Company in South San Francisco. The family moved to San Jose in 1956 where Pat and Dick bought their first home. Dick's work at Bethlehem Steel involved implementing the first computerized manufacturing system on the West Coast. In 1963 the family moved to Lafayette, California because Dick's job had shifted to an operation at Pinole Point in Contra Costa County. He traveled for Bethlehem implementing similar computer systems at facilities in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Dick left Bethlehem Steel in 1968 and went to work for Ernst & Ernst where he consulted with small manufacturing companies focusing on operational efficiencies. One of the companies he consulted for was Couroc of Monterey, a manufacturing company based in Monterey, California that made nationally distributed giftware. To pursue this career opportunity, Dick and Pat moved their family to Monterey in 1969. Dick was originally the Plant Manager for Couroc where he improved their manufacturing operations. However, in a few short years he was made President of the company when Royal Crown Cola bought Couroc from the holding company that had originally owned it. Dick worked at Couroc for 16 years until 1985 when he retired.
Dick loved the wilderness, particularly spending time in the High Sierra, introducing his family to cross country skiing, camping and back packing in Yosemite and Tahoe. He coached youth baseball and even served as league President. Once he left the work force, he was able to pursue his love of art and sculpting. He took classes at MPC and enjoyed several years of making art work, traveling and spending time with his family. Dick, an award-winning beer brewer, had many other interests like sailing, racquetball, tennis and snorkeling. He also used his business and financial skills to help Pat build her private practice as a Marriage, Family Therapist. He volunteered at a local non-profit public radio station, KAZU, for many years feeding his passion for music, particularly jazz. Dick was deeply curious about the world. He and Pat traveled extensively throughout the United States and took many trips together and separately abroad. They visited Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and the Middle East for business and pleasure. Dick had a special love for the Hawaiian Islands particularly Maui where he and Pat returned again and again. Unfortunately, in his later years he became more confined to their home when he developed Parkinson's disease.
Dick was a wonderful man with a variety of interests that included business, culture and the arts. He was a generous host and who took tremendous pride in sharing his home with friends and family. He leaves his loving wife of 58 years, Patricia; and a wonderful legacy through his six children: daughters, Kathleen (Boyd) Zegers and Linda (Richard) Reither; sons, Jeffrey (Cara Black), Kevin, Timothy (Rebecca Ramos) and Matthew (Mary Jane); 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson. The world has lost a good man who was an outstanding husband, father and friend. Dick was a true renaissance man in every sense of the term.
The family recognizes the tremendous love and support provided by their cousin, Carolyn Kelleher during their 40-plus years on the Peninsula. Dick loved Carolyn dearly and she was a great comfort to him in the challenging months prior to his death. The family also wishes to express their deep gratitude to caregiver, Veronica Sigala, and all those at Sunrise Senior Living (Terrace and Edna's Place) who made his last months comfortable for him. We especially want to thank Dan, Stephani, Dagan, Darlene, Elizabeth, Ross, Robin and Tay who were especially proactive in caring for him on a daily basis.
A celebration of Dick's life will be held at Montrio Restaurant in Monterey on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 1:00pm. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Hospice of the Central Coast, Harmony at Home, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra or the Youth Arts Collective.
