Richard Henry Schweickert

Richard Henry Schweickert born February 3, 1939, age 84, born to Graham Roscoe Schweickert and Marion Reid Davis, died at his home in Corona del Mar, California on July 11, 2023. He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Betty Martin Schweickert, his son, Richard Henry Schweickert, Jr (Maureen), his daughter, Merritt Schweickert Blake (Greg) and his seven grandchildren, Tyler Richard Schweickert, Joseph Douglas Blake, Julia Helen Schweickert, Samantha Elizabeth Blake, Carson Davis Schweickert, Katherine Paige Blake, and Daniel Gregory Blake.

Richard was predeceased by his father, mother and three older brothers, Graham R. (Bud) Schweickert, Jr, James Davis Schweickert and David MacDonald Schweickert.

Richard was born at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Territory of Hawai’i. His family returned to the mainland when Richard was still an infant and settled in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he lived with his mother and older brother(s) for the duration of the war while his father served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France. After the war his family moved to Altadena, California. Richard graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena, California in 1956. He attended Virginia Military Institute, did a stint in the Army, then attended Pasadena City College and University of Southern California.

After beginning his sales career with Crown-Zellerbach he moved his focus to the insurance industry in 1962 when he began working for Occidental Life Insurance in Pasadena, California. By 1965 he had moved on to the Los Angeles office of Marsh, McLennan & Cosgrove, the largest insurance brokerage in the country. In 1979 Richard opened the doors of his own brokerage, Schweickert & Company Insurance Agents, Brokers & Managers in Newport Beach, California.

In 1961 Richard met Betty in Pasadena. They married in 1962. Richard spent much of his leisure time helping Betty in “her” garden, improving their home and attending sports and cultural recitals of his children and grandchildren.

Besides being a father and grandfather, Richard loved the arts, holding positions as the President of Arts Orange County, President of the Board of Directors of the Laguna Playhouse and a member of the Board of Councilors of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. He forged many friendships in the L.A. and Orange County area and across the country with cultural leaders, general managers and financial managers of arts organizations, directors, actors and musicians. This is where he blended business with pleasure.

In 1982 Richard and his family became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The friendships, fellowship, doctrine of eternal families, and most importantly, faith in Jesus Christ, blessed and strengthened him during the ups and downs of life and especially through his health challenges and his last few months of life.

Richard’s memorial service will be held Saturday, July 29, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2150 Bonita Canyon Drive, Newport Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to one of Richard’s favorite charitable organizations:

Tunnels to Towers

Pacific Symphony

South Coast Repertory

Laguna Playhouse

Arts Orange County