Richard Joseph Cuddihy

Richard Joseph Cuddihy was born an only child in Wembley, England on May 24, 1933 to Irish parents, Kathleen (Cass) Cuddihy & John "Jack" Cuddihy. His mother was a surgical nurse and later a midwife and his father was a finish carpenter who later worked for Kilkenny Co. Council, supervising road construction; involved in preservation of heritage sites and ultimately retired as the fire chief in the local village brigade in Callan.

"Ric" spent his first eight years in England, returning to Ireland after the war got too personal, upon the death of his uncle during the Blitz.

He attended local schools back home in Ireland and finished his secondary studies at St. Kieran's College, a boys classical education boarding school in Kilkenny.

His life was full of varied and interesting experiences. In the mid-50's he worked in traffic for Aer Lingus Airlines in Dublin. He worked for a bank in London. He was a member of a cultural group that recited Robbie Burns and Dylan Thomas poems; organized Scottish country dinner-dances and fretted over the potential loss of endangered languages. He dabbled in coal mining in British Columbia while he hitchhiked the entire length of Canada. He laid electric power lines in Central Oregon where he also learned to drive, on the job, when he was thrown the keys!

He fulfilled his mandatory military service with the RCAF, with a Quebec infantry division. He was always an accomplished athlete; first competing in local middle-distance running in school, which ultimately led to scholarships for higher education. He attended University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada and while there became involved as a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. When he transferred to Oregon State University in 1960, the initial "co-op housing experiment for a group of like-minded athletic friends" soon became a brand new chapter of Zeta Psi. It was known at the time for its progressive thinking and membership from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and for their charitable efforts.

1961 was a pivotal year for "Rich," as he now became known. 'His' cross country team won the NCAA National Cross-Country Team Championship and he was among the top10 finishers, hence "All-American." He served that charter year as Zeta Psi President. He also lost his beloved mother to cancer.

In 1964 he was mentioned by name in the dean's graduation speech for excellence; for being an outstanding student in leadership; his variety of studies: Geology, Economics and Business Administration and his strength in overcoming adversity. He'd met Phyllis Petterson and they were married were in 1965 at St. Kevin's Church, Dublin, Ireland. They moved to California where he worked as General Sales Manager for Econoco, a producer of building materials, high-tech for their time.

They moved to Portland, Oregon where he started work for Esco Corporation, a steel company. In 1971 they purchased property in Yamhill and planted the first of what eventually would become nearly 25 acres of grapes and Desmesne Ste. Bride Vineyards. They were charter members of the Oregon Wine Grower's Association. In the 70's they were also involved in an early wine distributing operation, Willamette Valley Wine Company, in Portland.

His daughter Caitlin (Cuddihy) Cushman was born while they lived in California. Sons Sean and Kevin, daughter Siobhan and son Shane were all born in Oregon. All but Sean survive him. He has 6 grandchildren: Thomas and William "Liam" Cushman, Madeline and Gillian Cuddihy and Bridget Ortiz and Sean Moss. Richard and Phyllis were divorced in 1985.

He retired after a series of what he referred to as "day-jobs." His focus was always on his vineyard and the legacy he'd built for his children and grandchildren. He had a brush with death in 1995 as a result of some unfortunate surgical malpractice. He prevailed against expectations and returned to toiling once more as a vineyardist. He was happiest out there in the elements.

After a sudden and brief illness, with care from family and competent and caring medical staff, he passed from this life at age 81, May 28, 2014.

Services will be held on Tuesday, June 10 at St. Stevens Catholic Church in Portland. Rosary will be said at 7pm; Requiem Mass will start at 7:30pm. Cantores en Ecclesia, a group he knew, loved and felt fortunate to travel with on each of their concert tours abroad, over at least the last 23 years, will sing the entire Mass. A brief gathering will be held afterward in the church hall. Private burial will follow on a subsequent day at Pike Cemetery, Yamhill. In clear sight of his final resting place, one can spy his vineyard and the oak trees he loved so much, at the top of his property, overlooking the valley just a mile away.