I really enjoyed working with Dick - 1973-1980.  I was a brand new engineering graduate and did not have a clue about the detailed operation of his lab gear - Dick took me under his wing and patiently showed me everything I needed to know.  In exchange I taught him about the new emerging microprocessor technology.  Dick always made sure my chip prototype evaluation setups were done on time and ready for first silicon resting.  He will be missed

Dave Peeters

Divine Peace Bouquet was purchased for the family of Richard Edmund Sokol.

Dick was one of the friendly yet well respected people I met when I started working at Rockwell. I was young, but it took me no time to realize how lucky I was to be working in such an environment. We were working hard, really proud of the cutting edge technology projects we were working on, but it was the people that made it a great place to work. I always felt like we were a team, sort of an extended family. I remember Dick as a person who never complained regardless of how much pressure his department was getting from different groups who were constantly trying to convince him how urgent their job was. He would listen, prioritize and somehow all will be done on time. His people knew that they needed to work hard, but, Dick was there to stand up for them as their manager. We would chit chat about the kids while waiting for the last device to be soldered in. 
I'm very sorry for your loss and I hope you find peace in your memories with him. May he be with light.
Yasemin Ari

I worked with Dick at Rockwell, I wasn’t in his Department but he came into my Department from time to time he was a nice person and easy to work with.  

I was very sorry to hear of his passing and know you will all find peace in your happy memories with Dick and all your family.

Marilyn  Buccola

My favorite memories of Dick are having lunch at Chinese restaurants.  It was a good group eating good food over good conversation. 

I enjoyed working with Dick for many years at Rockwell.  I often needed work done by his shop,  Even when my project was not high on the company priority list, Dick would always work with me to develop a satisfactory plan to get the work done, and I could count on him to get it done as planned.  I will miss him greatly.

Dear Bernice and Sokol family,

I have so many wonderful memories of working with Dick for many years.  We loved to talk sports, but mostly "golf".  We were "Engineering Services" and we were a unique family.  He nurtured us to stay connected and to work with one another and learn how to solve problems. 

But, my favorite memories were the gathering's where we would all go out to lunch together for one reason or another to celebrate something or honor someone.  It was always a experience..  

And at the "Holidays" we had some dept "potlucks" where we all brought our favorite traditional holiday food into the office.  And so we had a real feast from many different cultures.  He knew how to give us that time to catch our breath between the never ending projects.  To savor the moment "together".

My husband's Mom was Polish so we would always talk about those Polish dishes that became a tradition in my family on Christmas Eve for decades.  Pierogies and Kielbasa. 

The Dept was never the same after he left. It was OK, just not the same.  After reading Lynn's memories of her Dad, and finding out that he was a Marine brings understanding to that toughness he had.  He was a good man with a good heart.  

My sincerest thoughts and prayers to Bernie and all of his family.  

Patti

Dick and I were friends and fellow employees at Rockwell International for many years. I often relied on him to get things done, because that's what he was good at. I learned early to tell Dick simply what I needed, and not how to achieve it. He knew how to do his job, so why should I think he needed my advice? 

As I neared retirement, Rockwell offered an onsite Weight Watchers class for employees. Dick and I both signed up. We were the most successful participants in the class. Each of us collected awards and praise from fellow Weight Watchers for our weight-loss success. One day, I asked Dick how he handled certain aspects of the program. He gave me a blank stare. When I prodded him further, he said, "Look, I don't know anything about 'points' or 'exchanges.' 

I asked him how he managed to thin down without knowing that stuff. The program was driving me nuts with all its rules, and regulations. He replied, "The objective is to lose weight, right? Well, you don't need a program to do that. I just don't eat anything." 

Well, there you are. Dick didn't need anyone telling him how to reach a goal. Did he keep the weight off? No, but neither did I.

-=Bill Berger=-

Uncle Dick was, and still will be my Second Father.  As my Godfather, In my younger growing years, Uncle Dick steered me on the right path so that I would have a strong professional carrier, and gave me the advice that I often still reflect on, that has molded me into a Strong Loving Husband, and Father.

I will treasure the many times I spent with Uncle Dick and Aunt Bernie when they came to Michigan, or when I came to visit in California. 

I will miss you Uncle Dick, but I know you will always have your hand on my shoulder. 

David..

My Highlight Reel of Dad - Final Part 3
By Lynn

Final Thoughts

The last weeks with Dad were anything but fun. I had my moments of anger and disbelief, yet I knew I was where I wanted and needed to be. I got a front row seat to see how God worked every detail and prayer request I had in only a way God can. I am forever grateful for the timing of Miles rejoining us here, as the final four days were quite taxing. We have all tried to “reach” Dad when it came to his spiritual life, but Dad wasn’t gonna have any of it. But I have peace in knowing that when Miles and Dad had a quiet time together, he did ask Jesus into his heart and for forgiveness of his sins. That is my highlight reel that I will forever play again and again! To know my Dad is now Heaven bound and safe in the arms of Jesus is PRICELESS! To God be the Glory, Amen!

Dad didn’t have the greatest of upbringings. He wasn’t the perfect husband or father. But he did his best he knew how to in everything he did. As with all people in our lives, we have both good and bad memories. I recently read in one of my daily readings the following: “Your memories are a choice. If you want to hold on to your painful memories, go right ahead. But you’re not going to be happy! Paul had a lot of reasons to focus on painful memories of Philippi. Instead, he chose to be grateful for the people in his life and the work God was doing in and through them. When you do the same, God will bless your relationships far beyond your expectations.” (Daily Hope with Pastor Rick Warren)

I will remember to forget any bad memories, and instead remember all the many good Highlight Reels I have with Dad… there are many!

 :blue_heart: Love you Dad :blue_heart:

My Highlight Reel of Dad - Part 2
By Lynn

Technology, Technology, Technology
~ Dad definitely had a love relationship with technology. He liked having the latest in TV’s, computers, and Cameras, to name a few. My family loved to see him upgrade his computer- we were always happy to take any hand-me-downs! I also have Dad to thank for showing me the some of the ins-and-outs of a PC- all of which continues to benefit me. But once retirement came, Dad wasn’t able to keep up with technology, so us kids got to attempt to show Dad the ropes of the ever-changing world of technology. I won’t even mention all the frustrations he had with his cell phones!
~ As for cameras and video cameras, Dad seemed to have the latest in those too. From the massive video camera with the video cassette component strapped around his shoulder and hanging next to his hip, to the floppy disk camera I recently found out he still has! (And we never even realized there was such a thing!) But Dad said he had to always have the latest cameras- photography was one of his favorite hobbies for a time, where Miles and I were even some of his subjects for the black and white photography class he took. I still have the pictures he took and developed from before our marriage of Miles pitching in college, while Miles’ Mom, sister and I cheered from the stands.
~ But the photography memory that takes the cake for me, was when some years back he pulled out the video footage and we came across the videos taken of when Laurie and I played volleyball. I was soooo excited to see me in my glory, but all we saw was the ball being followed up and down, up and down, up and down as it went to each person. Who wants to see who it is that made the great play anyway?? So much for making a highlight reel there!

More Fun Memories
~ Dad had a way with words… with the pronunciation of them anyway. Take the word theater. Dad’s version was theAter with a long A sound. Then there was salsa. Somehow Dad could mess this one up by saying it like sowsa. Then this one that became a word used more in his later years, therapy. Dad’s version for the er was like the sound in tiger, versus the sound of the word air. Go figure. But now we like to say those words that way in our family too, and get a lot of laughs from it. Thanks Dad.
~ I have many memories of helping dad when he was fixing a car, or other projects he did around the house. I stood there waiting for a request for any tool or item he needed. Even up the last couple weeks before his passing, Dad was very organized with where every little or big tool was in his very organized garage. He could tell me an exact cupboard, drawer, shelf, or where the tool was hanging on the wall without mistake. And boy did Dad have all the tools you could want!
~ And how could I forget Dad’s reaction to me accidentally hitting the front bay window with his beat-up orange Civic wagon… the second time. Let’s just say he had to hold Mom back from me instead of being angry or upset! Thanks Dad… Mom was fuming and it was a rare sight, and scary I might add. (Longer story, but I really did have a good reason for why that happened… twice… really!)
~ Dad (and Mom) have always been generous. Dad provided for his family always, and we were never lacking in anything we needed… even if it was Trax shoes from K-Mart that we all loved… NOT! But seriously, especially in his retirement years Dad wanted to be the one to pay for dinner if we went out to eat, and in the end it was a game to see who could reach the waiter first to call dibs on the tab! Our parents have always given generously anytime that was appropriate for a gift… or not.
~ And in our young adult years, Dad was even willing to allow us kids to come back home if need be…. Once! And I think we all did… just once.

My Highlight Reel of Dad - Part 1
By Lynn

Some of my early memories:

~ M&M’s- I have a distinct Ohio memory from when Mom would buy a treat for us kids to have if we were good while the babysitter was watching us. Many times, that would be the 8 pack of little bags of M&M’s. On this particular evening, Dad searched for Mom’s secret stash and found the M&M’s in an upper cupboard. He took out one of the bags (may 2) and dumped the whole thing right in his mouth. Besides being mad and worried that dad was going to eat them all, the only other thing I could think was, “When I grow up I want to be able to do that!”. This must be where my love for chocolate began too!
~ I also remember getting the belt…. Once! That’s all it took. Dad definitely expected us to behave in specific ways, and I definitely learned it was easier to do what I was told then pay the consequences. Much of my parenting came from both Dad and Mom… sorry Miles Ryan and Jacob.
~ Then there were the many trips to and from Michigan and California. I never could understand how he drove through the nights with very little sleep on those long days and nights. But you better not dare kick the back of his seat! As little kids this was hard since our feet didn’t hit the floor yet. I remember a quick slap or two on the leg that seemed to come from nowhere!

Sports, Sports, Sports
~ Dad LOVED watching football… and golf. I learned a lot about those sports- like it or not!
~ I also remember watching him play both slow-pitch and fast pitch softball in my early years. Boy was he good.
~ It was Dad I had to thank for any skills I had in my own softball career- which was my first sport of love. He taught me how to throw a strike to first base after fielding a ball, but not after he worked many days with me teaching me not to be afraid of a hard hit ground ball to me. And how could I forget all the nights under the lights helping me be a better pitcher. Dad’s technical and engineering mind was always at play- having all the right reasons for why his technique was the best one!
~ And a funny memory was when we were practicing at the Rockwell Rec Center softball field: Dad was again working on my pitching, fielding and hitting. We were about done, but I told Dad I wanted to pitch to him… I was surely gonna strike him out! He was insistent on not doing that because he always hits it right back up the middle and didn’t want to hurt me. Some how I finally convinced him to let me pitch to him, and you guessed it. Ball hit right back at me with such speed I had no time to react! Hit me with such force square on my forehead that I fell backward- boom! He was so mad at himself cuz he knew better! In the end, just a little ice for the softball sized bump on my forehead, and many laughs over the years!
~ You have a team you are rooting for? Dad was there to tell you why that wasn’t the right team. My family’s love for the Angels was always challenged by Dad, and he took advantage of every moment to let you know all the stupid mistakes that Manager Scioscia made, or why the top players were paid way too much and they weren’t really that good (But Mike Trout, Dad!!). He definitely knew how to push all the right buttons with us. But deep down, I think Dad wished the Angels could put it all together and come up with some more winning seasons- he just didn’t want you to know that!
~ But then there is golf. Possibly his longest lasting favorite pastime and sport to watch. Yet it was Mom who got the hole in one… Who’d a thunk?!

(Continues with Part 2)

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Richard Edmund Sokol

18 décembre 1939 – 17 janvier 2021

Miller Jones Mortuary and Crematory

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