Dick Noble

Born in Cohoes, New York, his first television appearances as a singer began at approximately age seven. He spent his pre-teen and teenage years in Rutland, Vermont where his quick wit, irreverence, and broadcast acumen delighted his peers (likely bewildered their parents) and quickly became legendary.

After attending high school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Rutland, he joined the United States Navy. Over the years, family and friends have been captivated by his artful storytelling about the life of a sailor and his adventures in underwater swimmers’ school in Key West; entertaining children as “Sparky” on television in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; traveling with Bob Hope’s USO tour and bringing it to life on the radio; meeting Pope John Paul II at the Vatican; teaching broadcast courses in Japan; and, sharing his voice, his intellect, his passion for music, and his humor with thousands of sailors and service members around the world.

While in the Navy, he served on the USS Forrestal (CV-59) for a period of time and also studied broadcast journalism and media, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Butler University and a Master of Arts from Boston College. Among his naval duties was an assignment to the Radio Television Department at Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, where he was a senior instructor. Later, as a Senior Chief Journalist, he was assigned to the Public Affairs Division of the Allied Forces Southern Europe Command, a NATO multinational military command in Naples, Italy.

Upon retiring from the Navy, Dick returned to Vermont where he owned and operated commercial radio stations until such time as he moved to Nebraska. After arriving in Lincoln, Dick became the general manager of KZUM -- a not-for-profit community radio station known for its distinctive and eclectic programming format and its previous mission to increase cultural and ethnic awareness. During his tenure with the station, revenues nearly tripled and the station secured multiple grants to support HIV and AIDS Awareness public service campaigns and non-English language programming in an endeavor to support Lincoln’s immigrant and refugee populations and provide them with news and important health and community service information. In all, the station was broadcasting in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Dick was elected to serve the maximum of two terms as chair of the Board of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters before retiring from KZUM. He then turned to other forms of community service including volunteer work with Lincoln’s public and private schools, the Cable Advisory Board, and as a Human Rights Commissioner. He was active politically and worked to support candidates who shared his values and ideals -- most important among them: free speech, diversity and inclusion, gender equality, human rights, and civil rights.

Dick recently renewed his interest in building model trains. He also loved photography and had an uncanny ability to see things that the rest of us might not even notice. He had a passion for writing, loved a great debate, and solved many of the world’s problems over breakfast or fine booze. And of course -- if you hadn’t noticed, he loved to talk. He made friends everywhere he went and always left an impression. He didn’t just want to share his stories, he wanted to hear everyone else’s. One of his favorite hobbies was traveling across the country and around the world collecting more stories to share. Oh yes, and there was baseball -- lots and lots of baseball.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother Frances Gardner; father Stephen Noble; brothers Alan Noble and Stephen Noble; sister Jean Smutco; brothers-in-law, Joe Smutco and John Rappa; and sisters-in-law, Marge Delaney and Gail Noble. He is survived by his wife Donnette Noble; children and grandchildren, Theresa (Jamal) Strayhorn – EJ, Evan, Aaron, and Amanda; Jeffrey (Vicki) Noble – Tyler, Emily, Jordan, and Robbie; Jason (Elissa) Noble – Blake and Ella; Sarah (Ramsey) Young – Rowan and Ayla; Sean (Rachel) Sweeney; mother Bea Noble Jasmin; sister Tootsie Noble Rappa; brother Jack Delaney; sister-in-law Patsy Noble; many cousins, nieces, nephews, la famiglia Bigliardo, shipmates, and dear friends all over the world.

Dick believed as Mary Oliver did when she offered instructions for living a life -- “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” Dick was kind, generous, compassionate, respectful, and creative. He was a loving, remarkable, one-of-a-kind husband, dad, grandpa, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. As he would say, “Mai sopra di te. Mai sotto di te. Sempre con te.” Never above you. Never below you. Always with you.

In lieu of flowers, Dick’s life and legacy can be honored with a memorial in his name to one of the following entities: