COLUMBIA - Richard “Dick” Howard Rockafellow, 81, died August 10, 2022, after a decade of courageously battling cancer. A visitation will be held Monday, August 15, from 5-7 p.m. at the Kitchens’ home - 3701 Tomaka Road. A private interment will be held at a later date.
Born in Charlotte, NC, Dick was the son of the late Walton H. and Edith Z. Rockafellow. He moved to Columbia as a child and graduated from Dreher High School in 1958. He graduated from USC in 1961 and from the USC School of Law in 1964. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar but instead of practicing law chose to use his law skills as in-house counsel for the rest of his career, first by working in the trust departments of First National and South Carolina National banks, and then by embarking on a long career in commercial real estate. He worked with McTeer Real Estate, which ultimately became Edens & Avant (now EDENS), for more than twenty years. Dick was instrumental in conservation efforts along the South Carolina coast through his work as vice president of the North Inlet Corporation (a developer of DeBordieu Colony, Georgetown County, SC), Director of the University of South Carolina Development Foundation, and a member of the South Carolina Nature Conservancy Board of Directors.
From pitching in Little League to playing tight-end at Dreher, “Rock” (as his friends called him) proved an outstanding athlete. He was recruited by the University of South Carolina with a two-year football scholarship under coaches Marvin Bass and Paul Dietzel. He enjoyed years of golfing, fishing, hunting and fitness. He and his lifelong friends cherished participating in a decades-running supper club, gathering as recently as this year. In his later years, Dick delighted most of all in spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.
Dick was predeceased by his first wife, Glenda G. Rockafellow. Surviving are his wife, Grace Linton Rockafellow; his daughter Elizabeth Helmboldt (Niles) and children Adelaide and Ned; his daughter Lanie Kitchens (Jim) and children James, Eliza, and Mac, all of Columbia. Also surviving are his sister Cecelia R. Lyday (Jack) of Pawleys Island, brother-in-law Richard P. Gunter of Mount Pleasant, step-son Greg Humphreys (Rubina) and children Jim and Maia of New York, step-daughter Ann Humphreys of Carrboro, NC, and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the dedicated staff of the Prisma Heart Hospital, Prisma step-down ICU and Prisma ICU.
Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s own choice.
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
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