Richard "Dick" Lee Urbanowski

It is with great sadness that the family of Richard Lee Urbanowski announces his passing at the age of 87, on October 17, 2023. He passed away peacefully with his wife of 65 years, Mary, at his side.

Richard (Dick) Lee Urbanowski was born on October 5, 1936, in Calumet, PA, the only child of Lee and Josephine (Krynicky) Urbanowski. He spent his childhood in the Laurel Highlands, a farming and coal mining area in southwestern PA. He attended and graduated from the Mt. Pleasant Township School District in 1954. He was accepted at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and in 1958 was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.

Shortly after graduation, Dick and Mary Kathryn Kaminski, a high school mate, and graduate of the Westmoreland School of Nursing, were married in a traditional three-day Polish wedding that included a reception for over 600 family members and guests. Following a honeymoon in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Dick and Mary moved to Painesville, OH, where Dick began his career with the Diamond Alkali Company, and Mary as a Nurse at the Lake County Hospital.

Dick’s early work experience was within Corporate Research in the Chemical Process Development group. In 1963 this led to the position of Senior Operations Engineer for the Agricultural Chemicals Division of what became the Diamond Shamrock Corporation. His responsibilities primarily involved being the technical liaison for the Division’s three manufacturing plants. In 1969 Dick was promoted to the position of Production Manager and subsequently Assistant Plant Manager of the Greens Bayou Plant in Houston, Texas. In 1972 he was promoted to Plant Manager of plant assets of some $125 million, and operations that employed over 250 people.

In late 1977, after nineteen years in the technical and production area, Dick had the opportunity to join the Marketing and Sales group as Area Manager of the Midwest Area, based in Chicago/Naperville, Illinois. Following a corporate restructuring, a new business unit - SDS Biotech Corporation - was formed, and in 1981, Dick moved to Atlanta/Dunwoody, Georgia to manage the Southern Area (the highest revenue generation and profit contribution area within the company).

As a result of a change in corporate ownership and now operating as a Swedish entity - Fermenta Plant Protection Company - Dick and family in 1984 moved back to the Cleveland/Mentor area as Vice President International. The key function of the position was to manage the international businesses of the company with emphasis on Europe and Latin America. During the next three years regional business organizations were established in the United Kingdom, France, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.

Following another ownership change in 1987, Dick was promoted to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of ISK Biosciences Corporation. The position was responsible for providing the leadership and managing the resources of ISKBC to meet both business and shareholder objectives. ISKBC became an international manufacturing and marketing company with annual net sales of $500 million and 550 employees.

In late 1997 the company was sold to a US/European conglomerate. After a very successful 40-year career Dick retired in March 1998. A kid from a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania traveled most of the world, meeting and establishing many personal relationships along the way.

But he didn’t retire, he “redirected” his interest. After making the decision to move to Austin, TX, he and Mary designed and built a new home in Barton Creek, taking residence in early 2000. Shortly afterwards he founded Hill Country Casadores LLC, a hunting operation in Llano, TX. He served on the Board of KMG Chemicals, Inc. as Lead Director from 2000 to 2013. He also served on the Board of Directors of Pioneer Chemicals Company from 2004 to 2008. In addition, he served on the board and as President of the Barton Creek North Property Owners Association, the Board of Governors of Barton Creek Country Club, and was an active member of the St. John Neumann Catholic Church where he was very involved in the development of the new Church and grounds.

Dick and Mary were blessed with seven very successful children, sixteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren: Richard Alan and Elizabeth (Santone) and children Rachel Hedges and her husband Austin, and Ricky of Shreveport, LA; LeeAnn (Urbanowski) and Terry Winkler and daughter Shannon Cizdziel and her husband Mark and children Emma & Luke of Dallas, TX; Robert and Tonda (Dennis) and children Candace and son Dawson, Kara Wolfe and husband Jake and children Rhett & Ripp, Brettain, Cassi Countryman and her husband Colton and daughter Riley, Spencer and Madison of Houston, TX; Paul of Marietta, GA; Mark and Elizabeth (Butler) and children Kate, Haley and Logan of Westfield, IN; Thomas and Victoria (Aurelio) and Nathan Wilson, Alyssa and William of Kingwood, TX; and Geoffery and Ivana (Jeremic) and Sara of Concord, OH. The Universities of Texas A&M, Baylor, Auburn and John Carrol are proudly represented.

Dick had a wide range of interests. He was an accomplished musician (accordion) in his teens. An avid hunter from his youth, he traveled widely hunting elk in Sweden, stag in Scotland, pheasant in England and France, dove and quail in Mexico and Argentina, and the wide range of game of the U.S. Another outdoor interest was fly fishing, which took him to the streams and rivers of Patagonia in Argentina, New Zealand, and the U.S. Rockies. He took up golf later in life and enjoyed his memberships at Kirtland Country Club in Ohio and Barton Creek Country Club in Texas, and the numerous golf opportunities associated with being in the turf business. These activities lead to numerous life-long friendships and memorable experiences. He was always a loyal fan of the Pittsburg Pirates, Steelers and Penguins, and along the way adopted the Cleveland Browns and Indians, and the San Antonio Spurs.

In June of 2021 an Urbanowski family reunion was held on a Texas ranch with 35 family members in attendance, which was a testament to the wonderful family and life that Dick and Mary have enjoyed.

Dick will be remembered for his warm heart, unwavering love and friendships, and his commitment to God, his family, and his community. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

A Catholic Funeral Mass and Inurnment will be held on November 17, 2023, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5455 Bee Cave Rd., Austin, TX, 78746. A Rosary will be said at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be sent to:

St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5455 Bee Cave Rd., Austin, TX, 78746 in care of the Dick Urbanowski Religious Education Endowment.