Richard was born May 26, 1951, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Richard and Lois Ludwinski. His family moved to the Detroit area when he was young, and he grew up in Southfield, Michigan, graduating from Southfield High School in 1969.
Richard spent much of his life working alongside his family and building businesses. He and his brother, Kurt, were founding members of All America Plywood, the Detroit company started by their father in 1967. In 1979, Richard and his father moved to Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, where they first opened a hardware store and later founded American Plywood Specialties in Clearwater. After many years as a business owner, Richard began a second career on the road, driving television trucks for Fox Sports.
However, a list of jobs and places could never fully explain Richard.
He was a character. Quick-witted, clever, generous, unconventional and completely comfortable marching to the beat of his own drum. He wasn't a big talker, but he never met a stranger. He loved making small talk with servers, cashiers and anyone who happened to be standing nearby, usually slipping in an unexpected comment just to see their reaction. If he didn't care for a side dish at a restaurant, he might ask the server if he could get cash back instead... and then quietly enjoy watching them try to figure out whether or not he was serious.
Richard never showed up anywhere empty-handed. It might be a Tootsie Pop or a Matchbox car for one of the grandkids, something he spotted at a thrift store and couldn't resist, a Wawa treat, a handmade gift, or often something silly (fake dog poop anyone?). His gifts weren't always conventional, but they were always very Richard, and behind them was a remarkably thoughtful and generous heart.
He loved sailing, camping, riding his ever-changing collection of bicycles, a good thrift store or junkyard find, funny T-shirts, Seinfeld, cocktail shrimp and a cup of regular coffee- never anything fancy. He volunteered as a firefighter and later in life was involved with Indian Rocks Church.
Richard could build or fix just about anything. Cars, trucks, boats, woodworking projects and things around the house were all fair game. A familiar sight was Richard in the driveway under the hood of a car, working on a project or rigging a sailboat. He could also fall asleep absolutely anywhere- a talent his family never quite understood but always found amusing.
In retirement, some of his greatest joys were the simplest ones: spending time with his family, watching his grandchildren's soccer games, riding bikes and finding little things he knew would make the kids smile.
Above all, Richard loved his family. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth Duke, Kathleen Sutherland and her husband Matt, Richard Ludwinski and his wife Alaina, Drew Odell, and Emily Livengood and her husband Jay; his grandchildren, Roman Duke, Rory Duke, Bernadette Sutherland, Miles and Elias Livengood, and Mariah Odell; his brother, Kurt Ludwinski and his wife Diane; and his sister, Nancy Schott and her husband Eric.
Richard was steady, kind and entirely himself. He taught those around him, sometimes without saying much at all, to lighten up, keep going and not take life too seriously. He will be remembered for his generosity, his humor, his ability to fix almost anything, and the unexpected little things he did to let people know he was thinking of them.
He will be deeply missed. The people who knew him best will undoubtedly continue telling Richard stories, laughing at his jokes and repeating the catchphrases that probably aren't appropriate to print in a newspaper.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Serenity Gardens, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Clearwater Community Sailing Center in support of youth sailing, a fitting tribute to Richard's lifelong love of being on the water.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Serenity Gardens Memorial Park.
