Richard Hargrave McMahan

Richard Hargrave McMahan, Jr. passed away on the afternoon of April 3, 2017, 4 days after his 88th birthday. While recuperating at Columbine West Health and Rehab Facility (Fort Collins, CO) from a mild stroke experienced last August, he suffered another severe stroke and died a few hours later, on the same day his second great-grandchild was born.

The son of Richard and Ida (Lacey) McMahan, Richard grew up in Rutherford, NJ, where he was valedictorian of his high school class of 1946 and voted Most Likely to Succeed. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, graduating with honors in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

Upon graduation he was recruited by General Electric Co. into their Engineering Test Program. A lifelong interest in and talent for writing led him to join the GE Advertising and Sales Promotion Department in Schenectady, NY, where he held a succession of creative and supervisory positions. While working there, he met Marjorie Mahrt, who had been recruited by GE upon her graduation in 1951 from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, into the GE Engineering Aide Program. They were married in 1954 in her home town of Granite City, IL.

Richard described his 42 years with GE as involving four distinct careers, all relying on his writing and analytic skills. Following a decade in advertising, he joined GE’s “think tank” TEMPO, where he designed and led projects in national defense policy analysis, and consulting with state and city governments on analysis and budgeting of public-sector programs. These assignments took him and his growing family to Santa Barbara, CA; Honolulu, HI; and Washington, DC. Following an assignment in Strategic Planning with GE’s Energy Systems and Technology Division in Stamford, CT, he returned in 1982 to Schenectady where he joined GE Power Systems marketing, preparing audio-visual materials for technical conferences and writing videos and executive presentations.

Following his retirement in 1992, he remained active on the boards of directors of the Capital District (Albany, NY) Humanist Society, and in Glenville, NY, the Woodhaven Home Owners Association and the Glennville Senior Center. For many years, he edited and published the newsletters for these organizations.

Richard lost his wife and best friend in February of 2012 when Marjorie succumbed on her 83rd birthday to a years-long struggle with Multiple System Atrophy (Shy-Drager Syndrome). He moved in 2013 to Fort Collins, CO to be near his son and daughter.

Richard is survived by his three children, three grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren: daughter Kathleen (David Clawson) and her children Eric (Jocelyn) Whidbee and Emilene Whidbee of Manteo, NC (and Eric and Jocelyn’s children Stella and Watson); son Andrew (BT Huntley), and his son Galen Trine-McMahan, of Fort Collins, CO; and daughter Martha, of Fort Collins.

In accordance with Richard’s request, his body has been donated to the Colorado State Anatomical Board for education, research, or related purposes. Richard has requested that any memorial contributions be made to The Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Av. NW, Washington DC 20036-3278, or Americans United for the Separation for Church and State, 1310 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005.

An informal remembrance celebration will be held Thursday May 4th from 2-4 pm in the dining room of the Worthington independent living center, 900 Worthington Circle, Fort Collins.

RSVP requested but not required: Martha McMahan: memcmahan626@gmailcom

Residents and staff of the Columbine Health System (Fort Collins campus) are invited to attend, and need not RSVP.