Richard H. Tourtelot
September 07, 1938 - February 26, 2012
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Richard H. Tourtelot
September 07, 1938 - February 26, 2012
Obituary
Tourtelot, Richard “Dick” Harding, peacefully passed away on February 26, 2012, after a 3 ½ year battle with Leiomysarcoma. Dick is survived by his beloved wife Lisa, his children Danielle Swanson of Huntington Beach, CA, Jennifer Jennings of Surprise, AZ, Ben Tourtelot of Irvine, CA, Lisa Marie Tourtelot of Miramar MCAS, CA, Jessica Tourtelot of Redondo Beach, CA and Max Tourtelot of New York, NY, seven grandchildren, his brother Robert H. Tourtelot of Los Angeles, CA, and many loving nieces and nephews.
Dick was a graduate of Santa Clara University and a Veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Army. Over the course of his business career, Dick developed many award winning residential and commercial real estate projects and developments. Dick loved spending time with his extended family and, especially cooking for everyone. He was at his best in front of a BBQ. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends spread throughout the country.
Family and friends are invited for the recitation of the Rosary at 6 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012, and Memorial Mass at 11 am on Friday, March 2, 2012, both at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5101 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to Damien the Leper Society, (www.damientheleper.org/Donate.htm or Damien the Leper Society, P. O. Box 17428, Pensacola, Florida 32522). Donations are also appreciated to The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/involved/donate/donateonlinenow/index). Dick’s cancer was very rare but the treatment he received allowed us more time with him. Please make your donations in honor of Richard H. Tourtelot.
2 responses to Richard H. Tourtelot
Lisa Tourtelot says:
February 29, 2012
A message from one of Dick’s Santa Clara Bronco buddies:
Hi Everyone.
Once again it falls on Bill Beasley to be the bearer of very sad tidings. Of course I would like to attend the service, so would appreciate being told about it. Thank you, Bill, and thank you, Tom. (And thank you Joe, for emailing me with the news, too.) I know this is not an easy passing for you.
Nor, I suspect, is it so for any of us.
The last time I saw Dick was at his birthday party. Not too long before that he had been in a hospital bed, so I was a little surprised to see how much he extended himself at that event. He was a cordial, affable, interested host, and insisted on being the one to cook steaks for everyone at the party’many of whom were members of his wonderful family. (Later I told him I got a stiff neck just talking to everyone’I’d never had to look up at so many tall people all together in one place in my life [not even at a Laker game]! He just laughed in that mirthful way of his.)
In my rarely-used cell phone are two messages from Dick. To me they capture so much of his spirit. That affectionate twinkle in his eye comes through in his voice, as does the concern and affection in his gentle ribbing of me in one call, and his unadulterated kindness in the other.
Guess I won’t soon be erasing those messages. . .
I was thinking the other day how adept Dick was at communicating affection honestly and openly. Then I thought back to when we first met at Kenna Hall. He had that gift then. I saw it in his eyes and smile and Tourtelotian chuckle, but it didn’t reach my consciousness in the same way. Years later we drove together to Steve Willett’s funeral, and his gift was there in that car then, too.
Some of you kept up with Dick far better than I, so you know how fondly he would speak of Lisa. It was clear that he knew he had someone special in her. What I saw of her was a lovely woman giving her all to the big lug she loved, and that love was returned manifold. But then, all of you at the last reunion must have seen that, too.
We seek comfort for our loss by looking for the good in this, and we tell ourselves, rightly, that Dick is now past pain and anxiety, and surely we can all be glad for that aspect. Still, I thought our world was better for his being in it. Certainly my experiences with him made my life a little better. Even though he and I only saw each other intermittently, lately I still have found myself wanting to talk to him, and feeling sorry I couldn’t, and a little surprised to be missing him or missing the chance to talk to him.
If you’ve stayed with me this far, thanks for the forbearance! Normally I don’t get this personal, and certainly not in a mass mailing. Maybe it’s because of the late hour. Maybe it’s because I can’t pray for him with the same faith I once had, and yet I do want to pay him at least this small public tribute’and right away, even if it means staying up too late and turning maudlin!
Whatever the reason, my heart and sympathy go out to everyone who cared for Dick.
One thing is sure: I’m not alone in saying I feel lucky to have known him.
Godspeed, Dick.
Chuck Whitchurch
Patrick James Grosswendt says:
February 29, 2012
Thank you Uncle Barka for all your years of love and support that you extended to so many that knew you and others that only knew you at first as a strangers helping hand that through selflessness extended to lift them up and help them on their way again.