Richard Herman Schottler

With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Richard Herman Schottler on February 11, 2025. Richard faced the challenges of multiple sclerosis for the past 20 years with dignity, grace, and humor, never allowing it to define his spirit.

Born on August 22, 1958, in Brooklyn, NY, Richard was the beloved son of William Herman Schottler and Helen Meta Schottler (née Lutzen) and the younger brother of William "Bill" Ludwig Schottler. His parents were first-generation German-Americans whose emigrant families owned delicatessens, instilling in him a lifelong appreciation for food and community.

Richard had a classic American youth of the 1960s and 70s. He played baseball, cheered for the New York Mets, and developed a deep love for Bob Dylan, films, and comedy. His passion for food led him to enroll at The Culinary Institute of America, where he graduated in 1978 as a trained chef.

He spent the early part of his career working in New York restaurants, where he met his first wife, Robyn Jane Losty. The two were married on November 28, 1981, and soon after settled in Ronkonkoma, NY, on Long Island, where they began their family. Their son Richard John Schottler was born on August 24, 1984, followed by their daughter Robin Ann Schottler on August 11, 1987.

Seeking a change of scenery, the family moved to Cody, WY, in 1990, where Richard continued working as a chef, devoting long hours to supporting his loved ones. Like many in the restaurant industry, he turned to drugs and alcohol to manage the stress of his demanding career. By the spring of 1992, those solutions had become unmanageable, and Richard made the life-changing decision to seek treatment at the Rimrock Foundation in Billings, MT. This marked the beginning of his journey in sobriety, a path he would follow for the rest of his life. Later that year, on October 14, 1992, Richard and Robyn welcomed their third child, Ryan Alan Schottler.

After spending years in other people’s kitchens, Richard caught the entrepreneurial bug and decided to return to his family roots in the delicatessen business. In 1995, he opened his own deli in Atkinson, NH, which was largely successful. However, outside circumstances prevented the family from truly thriving in New Hampshire, and in 1997, they made the decision to move back to Wyoming.

When Richard’s parents retired to Florida, the family moved once again to be near them. Richard also retired from cooking, choosing instead to start a lawn care business. His work catered to the many retirees in the area, allowing him to continue supporting his family while embracing a new challenge.

Then came 2005, a year of profound change. Though Richard and Robyn had built a life together, the stress of running a small family business became too much, and they divorced. Shortly after, Richard received devastating news—he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At the same time, his eldest son, now a U.S. Marine, was deploying to Iraq. Life continued to present challenges, and 2005 became a turning point, forcing Richard to confront a mid-life crisis.

As his MS progressed, the long, grueling days of cutting grass in the Florida heat were no longer an option. Richard turned to the foundation of his sobriety and began working entry-level positions at Florida treatment centers, marking the beginning of his next great calling: addiction counseling.

Through the power of modern online dating, Richard met Thea Breytenbach, a woman from South Africa, in 2008. The two married and, in 2010, moved to Billings, MT, where Richard took a job at Rimrock, the very place where his own recovery had begun. He simultaneously enrolled at Montana State University Billings to further his education.

At some point along the way, Thea grew homesick and returned to South Africa, leaving Richard to his work and his studies. Undeterred, he persevered, earning his Master’s Degree from MSU Billings in 2014. He became known as one of the best addiction counselors Rimrock had ever employed, helping countless individuals on their path to recovery.

But of course, MS is relentless. By 2018, Richard was forced to retire from the work that had become his passion. As his health continued to decline, he faced the reality of needing assisted living. In late 2019, he made the decision to move to Longmont, CO, where he spent the rest of his days on the ranch of his longtime best friend, Dr. Kirk Mitchell. There, surrounded by nature and friendship, Richard found peace.

Richard’s life was one of resilience, reinvention, and deep compassion. He never stopped learning, growing, or giving back. His legacy lives on in the lives he changed—the people he helped recover, the family he worked tirelessly to support, and the friends who were forever shaped by his humor, wisdom, and kindness.

A celebration of Richard’s life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, 10:00 AM at 5390 St. Vrain Rd., Longmont, CO 80503, with an option to join via Zoom. All who knew and loved him are welcome to attend. If you would like to attend in either capacity, please reach out to his son, Richard John Schottler, at [email protected] for more details.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to organizations supporting addiction recovery or multiple sclerosis research, causes that were close to Richard’s heart.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Fund in his Honor

https://donate.nationalmssociety.org/campaign/In-Memory-of-Richard-H--Schottler

Rimrock Foundation - Addictions Recovery

https://www.rimrock.org/donate/

Though he is no longer with us, his story endures—a testament to perseverance, love, and the power of second chances.