Richard J. "Dick" Schlott

Richard J "Dick" Schlott passed away on September 7 2015 at 1 am at home in the company of his family. Dick was born in Council Bluffs Iowa on January 17, 1934, the son of Marcel C and Ruth (Geasland) Schlott. Dick was the proud father of David Christopher (Suzanne), Nicholas Jay and Susan Camille Clarke (Dermot); together they gave him 4 marvelous grandchildren to love: Zachary Schlott, Walker Schlott, and Eve and Julia Clarke.Dick is survived by his much-loved wife Leah (Dirr), sister Kathryn (Robert Knox), 2 sons, a daughter, 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, 5 stepchildren, 7 step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers -- Donald and Gerald Schlott.Dick developed an interest in all things science at an early age. In third grade he first saw stars after being fitted with glasses and decided to be an astronomer. Later on he got a chemistry set for Christmas and soon learned to make flares, small rockets and stink bombs, becoming a hit with his buddies. A gift microscope led to an interest in the tiny critters in marsh water and other fluids, while scouting turned his attention to birds and botany. Learning to develop film and print photos renewed his interest in chemistry, this time without pyrotechnics, so when it was time to head for college he decided on a chemistry career.He attended Iowa State, where he met and married Mary Grout After Dick graduated in 1955 with a B.S. in chemistry, they and newly-born David Christopher went to Germany where Dick served with the US Army Signal Corps as a lieutenant. Completing his active service in 1957, he enrolled in Purdue University"s graduate school, earning a PhD in chemistry in 1963. The family, now with 3 children, settled in Arlington Heights in 1964. Dick was active in the community, serving on the Elementary District 25 school board and with the NNSEO governing board. Dick and Mary eventually went their separate ways.Dick was employed as a senior research chemist by Borg Warner in the Des Plaines research center for about 10 years; after earning a J.D. at John Marshall Law School in 1976 he joined the BW law department in Chicago as a patent attorney. . Dick left BW in 1987 to join Amoco"s law department as senior patent attorney. He retired from Amoco in 1998Dick met Leah Dirr Holliday; and they married in 1982 and lived in Mount Prospect with varying numbers of their combined 8 children. Emulating his dad, Dick tried to grow roses for several years; he gave up after several summers of losing battles with Japanese beetlesDick and Leah enjoyed traveling, and particularly enjoyed taking their grandchildren on inter-generational tours in Texas, Utah, Georgia and Florida. After retiring they took up bicycling, and bought a winter home in Arizona so they could ride all year. Over a ten-year stretch they biked more than 3000 miles in Europe, mostly on multi-week, self-guided tours in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Belgium and France. Dick continued bike touring until he was well into his "70"s, and only gave up riding when his lung disease made biking too difficult.In 2009, now with an empty nest, Dick and Leah sold their Mount Prospect house and built a smaller place a short walk from downtown Arlington Heights and the Sounds of Summer concerts. They are blessed with wonderful neighbors who have been good friends, offering help as Dick"s health continued to decline.Memorial service 11:30 AM, Saturday, September 12, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, 1803 E. Euclid Ave,. Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Family will receive guests from 10:30 AM until time of" service." Interment private. lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Chicago Food Pantry or to a charity of your choice. Funeral information and condolences, Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd., 847-253-0168 or www.glueckertfuneralhome.com