Richard A. Giudicessi

Richard Anthony “Rick” Giudicessi, 75, passed away October 1, 2024 in Des Moines. A funeral mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines with burial following at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 7, 2024 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines.

Born, March 15, 1949, in Des Moines, IA, the firstborn child to Anthony Samuel and Dorothy (Staley) Giudicessi. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Shari (Septer); two amazing kids, Anthony Samuel “Tony” Giudicessi II (Megan) and Ann Marie Giudicessi; and two grandchildren who brought much joy to his later years, Genevieve Kay and Richard Anthony “Ricky” Giudicessi II. He is also survived by his brother, Michael A. Giudicessi (Cheryl) and a rich extended and blended family.

Raised in the Oak Park neighborhood of Des Moines, he graduated from Tech High School and entered the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, rising to the rank of Buck Sergeant. He returned to the United States, where he married his first wife, Joy (Grant), graduated from the University of Iowa, and started a family. Rick became an instructor with DMACC in Ankeny, IA, in 1980, where he taught for 26 years as a Marketing, Management, and Advertising instructor. He made his mark as the post-secondary State Advisor for the student organization DECA. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. His state officers won the national newsletter award 15 years in a row until his retirement. He loved his students and officers and connected every six months with an alumni group. The outpouring of love from this community has been significant, much as they describe Rick’s influence in their formative adult years.

His wife, Shari, entered the picture in 1992 and they were married two years later. In his own words, Rick described Shari as “a blessing I’d not prepared for. She came into my life at a true time of need. Her selfless way chose to join three human swatches and found a way to sew us all together to make us the family we’ve become. Her love was never held in reserve, for she has given us all she has…For this, I am forever grateful, and my love for Shari is never ending.”

Rick loved his family, entertaining, throwing big parties, the Iowa Hawkeyes, KC Chiefs, KC Royals and music. He amassed a large and diverse music collection in every different format over the years. He found happiness, reflection, and nostalgia in music. He often enjoyed a good meal at his cousin’s restaurant, Christopher’s, or a drink on the horseshoe end of the bar at Cooney’s Tavern. Rick was a tremendous conversationalist. He loved to talk music, baseball, football, and, with some, politics. Rick was a good Democrat till the end, even ordering a Harris Walz sign for the yard during his hospitalization. Rick was very proud of his Italian heritage. He cherished family holidays and gatherings where those he loved could share his favorite foods and traditions. Most important to Rick was his family. “You’re a kid once but a parent for life.” “Becoming a grandparent was the best job I never applied for!” Rick took tremendous pride in naming his son after his father, and when the favor was returned, he was overwhelmed with joy that his name and legacy should live on for another generation. He had unique and special relationships with each of his children and grandchildren, and his place in their lives casts a long shadow of love. Rick and Shari’s home has often been open to their large blended family and the even larger family of adopted sons and daughters within their community of friends and neighbors. Rick had a retailer and marketer’s sense of flair. This showed up in his many side hustles around the community with merchandise and websites in his retired years. He also branded his backyard patio bar, which has been known for signature gatherings for nearly two decades.

Rick was an avid supporter of public schools and teachers, you should be too! In place of flowers, the family requests that donations in memoriam be directed to the Waukee Community Schools Foundation (where Tony II served as President and Board Member, and where his grandchildren attend school), By Degrees Foundation, or DAV.

Rick was a stranger to few and loved by many. Raise a glass to one of the good ones, Sláinte!