Richard L. Kreutz

Alexandria, Virginia — Richard Leo Kreutz, loving father, husband, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2019. He was 92 years old. Dick Kreutz was born to Anna Schulz Kreutz and Leopold Kreutz on September 27, 1927 in Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from Proviso Township High School on June 6, 1945 where he played football. After serving briefly in the Marine Corps at the end of World War 2, he was honorably discharged on August 29, 1946. Dick achieved his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in Architecture on August 21, 1950. His career in commercial architecture was diverse and highly-acclaimed, encompassing civilian and governmental projects around the world. In his hometown of Chicago, while working for Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, he was involved with two of the tallest buildings in the world: first the John Hancock Building, and as the project manager for the then-tallest building in the world, The Sears, Roebuck, & Company headquarters. Later, while a Vice President at 3D International of Houston, he divided his time between the firm’s Saudi Arabian planning and construction effort for ARAMCO; the establishment, as Director of International Operations of several subsidiary corporations and offices; the management of operations in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines; and the development of several architectural projects. He built banks in Cairo, Kuwait, Spokane and Malaysia; hotels in Cairo and Kuwait City; the Philharmonic Hall in Teheran Iran; Universities in Chicago and Iran; and offices in Nashville, New Orleans, Teheran, and Neenah Wisconsin, besides others in Chicago. He oversaw the renovation of 588 branches of Bank of America in California, was the principal in charge of furniture and furnishings for the Asian Development Bank. One of Dick’s most interesting accomplishments was the successful completion of the highly publicized program for the monumental public sculpture, the Chicago Picasso. He directed the effort which involved the translation of Picasso’s original sculpture into constructible form and included its installation on the plaza of the Chicago Civic Center. Another unusual project was the restoration of the San Francisco State Supreme Court building and adding to it an office annex of more than one million square feet. Dick’s hobbies included sailing, traveling around the world, metal machining and tool making, building accurate models of whaling vessels and ships in bottles, and maritime knotting. He also loved a good mystery novel and World War 2 history. Survivors include his loving wife of 31 years, Dianna Reiff Kreutz; daughter Lisa Kreutz Mahoney of Littleton CO; son Eric H. Kreutz of Glendora CA; granddaughter Arin M. Jalbert and her two children of Copperas Cove TX ; grandson Duane R. Tisdale of Houston TX, and grandson Nicholas F. Mahoney of Golden CO; as well as stepchildren Jacquelyn M. Lee of Waterford WI and her three children, and David P. Mahoney of Charleston SC, and his two children. Earlier, Dick’s first daughter, April S. Tisdale, lost a battle with cancer. A big personality, he set an inspirational example of hard work and loving dedication for his children and grandchildren; and was an entertaining, insightful, and helpful friend to hundreds in a dozen cities. He will be missed by many for a long time.