Richard had a great sense of humor and was always a gentleman.

Virginia Kuhle

Simply put, the nicest person on the planet. As a longtime neighbor of Dick's just a few doors down, you could not ask for better. I will always recall how he and my and late father would chat and share stories about everything  under sun, from reminiscing about the old neighborhood that they both grew up in, or their shared fondness for the outdoors, thoughts on growing avocados & lemons, to baseball, especially baseball! I will miss seeing him tending his flowers and the spectacular Poinsettias in his yard. With a wry sense of humor, Dick was always good for a smile and a laugh, and all of us who knew him, are just a little bit better for it. Dick will always be part of the fabric or our neighborhood, and his spirit is firmly entrenched here.

To the Greenleaf Family,
So sorry to hear about the loss of Dick.  He was a wonderful little league coach and always encouraged the members of the team to strive to do our best. Whenever the count was 3-X (no matter how many strikes), he always said "Make him be a pitcher," which was his way of saying "Don't swing at the next pitch."  He always had a positive attitude.  Reading about all of his talents and his service to the San Diego community and his church makes me sad that I did not get to know him better.  I know he will be sorely missed, but he is in the arms of Jesus now and smiling. 
- Betty Steffens Clark, Tigers '76

Sorry to hear about this tragic event.  My prayers and sympathy for the family.  May Dick rest in peace.

Grandpa Greenleaf was like a grandfather I never had. 

I never saw my maternal grandfather, who passed away before my mother married my father. So I had only had one grandfather in my life until I met Grandpa Greenleaf.

I am from a different country and a different culture. So I could have been a total stranger to Grandpa Greenleaf. But he treated me like a real granddaughter. I often told my family and Korean friends how sweet he was to me and all of them were so surprised. It was all the more surprising for them because it is unheard of in a culture where blood is important, that one could be so sweet to his non-blood-related grandson and his wife.

Attached is a picture of me holding the birthday card he sent me 2 months ago. I didn’t know that it would be the last card I’ll ever receive from him, and that the picture would be the last one I sent him. But I will remember him forever. I really appreciated and loved Grandpa Greenleaf.


So sorry for your loss.  I worked in the City Engineering Department for 39 years  (1960-1999) and had occasion  to work with Dick on many right-of-way acquisitions.  He was a fine gentleman and colleague.  I never realized that he was such a singer.
May your sorrow be tempered with memories of a wonderful family member for many years.
Robert Cain

Dick Greenleaf was one of the sweetest, nicest men I have ever known. He was the same kind of man as my father and father-in-law - willing to give you the shirt off his back, always smiling & hugging you without reservation. When I first met Dick & Barbara, I was camping with the Greenleaf family at Wright's Lake.  They welcomed me warmly. Dick made great pancakes & he used an old-style flipper that I "flipped" over. By the end of the trip he had given it to me. I treasured it - and him. I already miss seeing his smiling face at our family Thanksgiving dinner. Losing him leaves a huge hole.

Thinking of you and your family, Cyndy. Taking solace in the fact that the grief you all feel for the loss of your father and friend is balanced by the love you feel for a man who defined love and compassion and inspired it all whose lives he touched. I knew him only through the words and stories you recounted to me about the times when you got to visit him. Yet I knew him well because those powerful words and stories were inspired by his love for you. We too shall benefit from his remarkable legacy. Thanks to you and your family for sharing his example with us all.

Whenever I had an interaction with Richard, it was an opportunity for me to see Jesus; Richard was so kind and loving.  He will truly be missed by everyone whose lives he touched.  My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time.  

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Richard D. Greenleaf

March 31, 1928 – July 25, 2021

Goodbody Mortuary

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