Richard Gonzalo Katerndahl

Richard Gonzalo Katerndahl of San Rafael, California, passed away from complications of diabetes on August 30, 2023, peacefully and surrounded by family. Richard was a deeply committed Catholic who truly lived his faith, a passionate and brilliant lawyer with a deep and wide-ranging intellect.

Richard was born in San Francisco in 1956 and grew up in Denver and Detroit as his ad man dad, Dick Katerndahl, was transferred around the U.S. for his client Chevrolet. Richard also became a Chevy guy and died the proud owner of a 2017 50th anniversary Camaro. The family returned to Marin in 1965, and Richard thereafter refused to live anywhere else. He attended St. Raphael’s grammar school and St. Ignatius College Preparatory, where he was a star debater and met his future wife, Penny, his debate opponent. During the subsequent fifty years, he never failed to point out that his team won. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1976 and USF Law School in 1979.

Richard clerked for Justice Coleman Blease on the California Court of Appeal and Justice Cruz Reynoso on the California Supreme Court. He practiced with several law firms, including Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, Hassard Bonnington, and Shiver & Stadum, before starting his own appellate practice.

Richard treasured family above all things. He was preceded in death by his father, Dick, and mother Estela Rivera Katerndahl, who was born in Mexico City and taught Dick and all the kids how to be Latinos. He was the eldest of seven siblings, and is survived by his sisters Lucette Besson and Francine Herzer and his brothers Kevin, John, Carl and Paul Katerndahl. He was a besotted and devoted uncle to 19 nieces, nephews, and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved aunt and “second mother,” Lucha Miller, as well as his wife of almost 40 years, Penelope ("Penny") Preovolos.

Richard devoted much of his life to service through organizations including Life Legal Defense Fund, the St. Vincent de Paul Society (including the battle to save the San Rafael dining room), and St. Raphael’s Adopt-A-Student program. He was a Knight of Columbus for decades and served a term as Grand Knight; he taught CCD (religious education) for over 30 years at St. Raphael and St. Anselm parishes. He was active in the Marin Republican Party. Richard was a voracious reader of religion, history, politics, philosophy and, on the lighter side, mysteries, science fiction and, of course, Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes. He loved Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. John Paul, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, smoking cigars with his brothers, and collecting pens and almost anything electronic.

Richard was a true gentleman who learned a sense of chivalry and honor from his dad. He was a man of deep faith, integrity, compassion and courage who never complained, and never said “no” to anyone who needed his help or prayers. We will miss him very much.

In lieu of flowers please honor Richard by donating to St. Raphael Adopt-A-Student Program in his memory. https://www.straphaelschool.com/adopt-a-student or mail to St. Raphael Adopt-A-Student Program, 1100 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA, 94901.