Richard William McChesney

Born to Evan and Arline McChesney in Chapel Hill, NC, he was the eldest of their three children. After spending his youth in upstate New York, he went on to earn degrees in mathematics and music from Union College, the University of Rochester, and the University of Michigan.

Within two weeks of having made her acquaintance while at the University of Rochester, he proposed marriage to Jean Kauffman of Jenkintown, PA, and they were wed in 1960. Richard, Jean and their two sons eventually settled in Colorado Springs in 1973. His children fondly remember him teaching them card games and chess, and reading them the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Jeeves and Wooster, and Horatio Hornblower, among many others.

Though Richard worked as a computer programmer for the U.S. Air Force Civil Service and for Colorado Springs School District 11, his true passion was for classical and folk music. He tried his hand at several instruments over the years but had a particular fondness for playing the Irish harp. He, with his family, would frequently play recitals at local retirement and assisted living facilities. He developed a well-honed critical ear for musical composition and performance, writing thoughtful and considered reviews for the Colorado Springs Sun newspaper as the classical music performance critic for several years.

Richard took great pride in supporting the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, for many years contributing to student scholarships for young musicians from across the country attending the annual Conservatory. The festival performance season was easily his favorite time of year and it brought him great joy.

Richard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean; his two sisters, Ruth McRobbie and Peg McChesney; his sons and their wives, Kevin and Tracy McChesney, and Darrell and Patricia McChesney; and his granddaughter, Rebecca McChesney. A gentleman in the true sense of the word, he will be missed.