We will be having a memorial gathering for Richard on September 17, 2024 at 6:30pm at Trudy’s (8820 Burnet Rd) in Austin.  We will be gathering in the upstairs room sharing a meal, telling stories, and raising a glass to my brother.  If Richard touched your life in some way we would love it if you could join us.

Hipower Systems send our condolences to the family, especially Edward Leblanc, our Engineering Director.   Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.  Rest in peace!

Hipower Systems
16600 S. Theden St.
Olathe, Kansas 66062

Richard and I didn't always get along - we were both very stubborn, and I especially was bad at admitting I could be wrong - but we were friends,  a friendship that meant enough to me that I stayed in touch with him when I closed a lot of other doors. He was the guy who introduced me to role-playing games, and I was the guy who convinced him to look into the school we graduated from.

A story that tells you most of what there is to say about our friendship: I knew when he was going off to That School In Austin he was going to study computer science, so I got him an abacus as a graduation present. Something happened where we got in a fight, and he got mad, threw the abacus in the yard, and drove off. He must have gotten to the end of the block and thought better of it, because he came back and tried to pick the abacus up without getting spotted. When we were both weird teenage outsiders chock-full of hormones and bad ideas, it mattered enough to him to go back for it when being angry would've been the easy way. Took me a while to get to that level.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Richard's name to either The University of Texas Scholarship Fund, Girls Who Code, or Advocates for Autism.

I incredibly sad to read of Richard's passing. The first time he came into Disco, the consensus was "He's good. We want him." He joined at a really crazy time and was always incredibly good natured about the chaos. We'll miss him in our Disco alumni community.

I was fortunate to work closely with Richard for many years at CS Disco. Richard was one of the most brilliant and talented engineers I’ve ever known, with a knowledge of movies that was truly legendary.

At first glance, Richard might have seemed a bit intimidating, but that impression quickly faded once you got to know him. Beneath that exterior was a heart full of kindness and a sharp, playful sense of humor. Richard cared deeply about those around him, and his unwavering principles were something I admired greatly. He never hesitated to speak up when it mattered, always doing so with grace and respect.

Richard’s example as a friend and a human being was profound, and I’m grateful to have had the privilege of knowing him. His presence made us all better. He will be deeply missed.

My condolences to Richard's family and friends. Working with and learning from Richard at DISCO was one of the highlights of my career. I'll always appreciate his straight forward approach to solving hard problems and unique humor. 

Richard, you will be missed.

Working with Richard at Disco was one of the easiest and most rewarding parts of my career.  His approach, personality, and genuineness made it a pleasure to collaborate and be around every day. The way he acted, from his no-nonsense delivery to asking the hard questions and listening carefully in response, remain the model for how I hope to work. I was looking for more chances to work  together, and am devastated by this loss. He was an incredible human, friend, and colleague whom we lost far too soon.

Richard was a fantastic colleague, friend, and engineer. I have so much respect for him, and I always hoped we would work together again. He was excellent at delivering quality software, and he cared about the team and the work. I loved his sense of humor, and I admired his integrity. My sincere condolences to his family.

So sorry to hear of Richard's passing. He was a pleasure to work with and a great teammate, always willing to share his depth of knowledge with others. He kept us laughing with his sense of humor and honesty. Sending love from the Pegasus team <3

Hello.  I'm a friend of Richard's.  We worked closely together for several years at CS Disco, and then kept in touch for years afterwards.  We loved to joke about the absurdities of the software industry and the world in general.

He was a genuinely good person, with compassion and understanding for everyone, and a terrific sense of humor (also perhaps the best engineer I've ever worked with).

Richard had many friends from Disco (and, I'm sure, elsewhere) and we'll all miss him deeply.

OBITUARY

Richard Harry Pistole

August 7, 1978 – August 15, 2024

Cook-Walden Funeral Home

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