Richard Kling Park

Richard K. Park ("Dick"), was born on April 5, 1928. He passed away peacefully, on July 7, 2022. He was 94. He lived a long, healthy and happy life. Dick was born and raised in Michigan, where he became an avid fly fisherman. His father, Charles Park, was the superintendent of schools. His mother, Thelma, was also an educator. Dick was the oldest of three children. He had a sister, Mary, and a brother, Fred. They all loved fly fishing and canoeing down the Au Sable river, in Grayling Michigan. As Dick's children, we spent many summers with our cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents at the family cabin in Graying, Michigan. Some of our favorite family memories are of all the fishing, food, canoe trips, games, tubing down the river and the "kid's dorm room”. Dick attended the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Medical School. He married Martha Morgan and had three children together: Rick, Sally and Jill. Marty and Dick moved to Denver where he established his dermatology practice. They had many friends in Denver and were members of Pinehurst Country Club. He was also a professor at the University of Colorado, where he mentored medical students. In his twenties, he was in the military and served as a Captain in the United States Army, living in El Paso, Texas.

Later in his life, he married Jane H. Park. Dick and Jane lived in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Jane also had three children. They had many wonderful friends and neighbors. He lived in this same house for nearly 50 years. Together, they loved travel, spending time with friends, dinner parties, tennis and candlelight dinners. Jane's gardens were some of the most beautiful in the neighborhood. He really loved and appreciated the beauty of their gardens, artwork and collectables that were so much a part of their home.

Their trips to Hawaii with friends, and their month- long stays in Maui, were some of the best highlights in his life. There were many winter ski trips in Colorado. If you skied with Dick, you were first on the chairlift and last one off the slopes. As children, we got fifteen minutes for lunch and that was it. Jane changed his mind about that though, as he learned to enjoy a longer break in the lodge.

Dick was very competitive. In high school, he was the student body president, in the dance band, a lineman on the football team, the captain of the basketball team and ran track. He was voted the most valuable student. There were so many accomplishments. Even during college, with all his studies, he travelled around playing big band music in his community. At one point, he was the lieutenant governor for one day, for the State of Michigan, to help pass some legislation. This competitive nature was also a part of many croquet matches in the backyard with his kids and grandkids. It also showed up "playing bridge for money" with his dear friends and the Tuesday bridge groups, later in his life.

He kept busy and active. He built and flew model airplanes. He enjoyed backpacking, camping and hiking the Rocky Mountains. For many years, you could catch him on his road bike somewhere near the Cherry Creek Dam. He cheered on Michigan football, the Denver Broncos, golf tournaments, the Avalanche, the Rockies and the Denver Nuggets. He even attended the University of Colorado Buffalo football games throughout many years, as some of his kids and grandkids attended CU Boulder.

Most of all, he loved spending time with family, yet he insisted on being independent, even up until his final few moments here with us. This wouldn't be complete without mentioning, he had special place in his heart for animals; most especially, his dogs throughout the years.

He was always very specific about being on time. When he was on his way over he'd say, "I'll be over at 1:32 pm". Most of us might say, "I'Il see you in about a half hour."

If there is a comfort to be found, near the end, we knew by the comments he made, he knew he had lived long and it was indeed, his time to go.

He is survived by his children, Jane's two children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

We are so grateful for his life and all his friends. We love him and will miss him, as will many of you.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerchapelhill.com for the Park family.