He was born January 19th, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Eugene L. Slater and Wilma Francis Slater. Eight years after Dick’s birth, the family moved to Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.
There, Dick Slater bloomed in athletics and academics. In 1948, he won the Silver Skates in the annual speed skating event sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. Speed skating at that time was a major sport, and large crowds of freezing Chicagoans stood on the ice for the tournaments.
Dick had the lead role in the eighth grade annual junior high musical and was elected outstanding boy in the class.
At Glenbard High School (now Glenbard West), he excelled in athletics, starring as quarterback on the football team, guard in basketball, and outfielder in baseball. In his senior year, the family moved to Springfield, Ohio, where Slater quarterbacked the football team and played baseball.
He attended Bowling Green University and transferred to Otterbein University, from which he graduated in 1958. He was on the Otterbein golf team, and the rest of his life played golf regularly. He would joke that he never quite — but almost — shot his age on San Diego courses.
Upon moving to San Diego, he met and married, Michelle Sheridan and had a daughter, Kristine.
He had several jobs in industrial sales and financial planning before retiring in his 60’s.
In 1987, he married the love of his life, Beverly Crowle, who was a popular pianist/performer/composer around the county and had been one of the earliest musical talents in San Diego Radio. They were married for 9 glorious years before her death in 1996.
Dick Slater is survived by his daughter, Kristine Slater DeButy and son-in law, John Alexander DeButy Sr. of Sachse, Texas. He is also survived by his younger sister, Julie Slater Terrell of Wilmington, North Carolina. Among survivors are grandchildren John Jr., Tyler and Dylan DeButy of Sachse, Tx and Beverly’s son, Kerry Crowle and his wife, Julie and three grandsons, Brian, Steven and David of La Mesa, California; nieces, nephews and many lifelong friends.
He is preceded in death by Beverly Crowle Slater and his two brothers, Frank and Monty Slater.
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