Rick Hirst

Richard “Rick” Hirst was born in Shelby Hospital in the fair city of Washington DC, on November 14, 1946. His father, Roland Hirst, had been a Navy man who was working in the Government sector. They lived with his mother, Alice Hendricks and his older brother William “Billy” Hirst, in a small home in Alexandria VA.

Later they would move to New York where Rick was an avid athlete. He excelled in baseball as a pitcher. After College he and his mother moved to Arizona where Rick found a new passion, Veterans issues. Rick went to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. It was here in the Phoenix office that he would meet the woman who would be the love of his life, Iris Burke.

They were married in a simple ceremony in Phoenix on June 25 1977.

In 1988 Rick was offered a chance for a promotion which required a move back to the Washington DC area. He and Iris found a home in the town of Bowie MD.

In 1991 he was blessed with his first grandson, Matthew. And again in 1997 he was blessed with a second grandson, Sean. He was attentive to them in a way that only Rick could be, not quite doting, but lovingly in his own unique style.

Rick worked for the VA until 1999 when he was courted away by the VFW to be their Director for Training. In this position he developed the organization into the most highly trained and successful veterans advocate group in the nation.

Rick loved the trips that he and Iris took, including multiple cruises to the Caribbean, one which included the grandkids. But mostly he was a homebody and could be found avidly watching almost any sport one could find on TV.

Rick loved to spend time when he could with his two grandsons, Matthew and Sean. He was especially anxious to see his new great-granddaughter, Arabella Burke, who was born to Matthew and Jessica on March 28 2013.

Rick leaves behind his wife Iris, stepson George, daughter-in-law Robin, grandchildren Matthew and his wife Jessica, and Sean, and his great graddaughter Arabella and Jasper (Velcro) his loving Golden Retriever.

Though never a veteran himself it was Rick’s passion to see that veterans were cared for properly. He loved the VFW and its mission of advocacy for veterans.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the VFW children’s home in Rick’s name. vfwnationalhome.org