Richard F. Burchill

Richard (“Dick”) Franklin Burchill took one last, metaphoric dive from Knoebels’ tower when he passed on January 11, 2023. Dick lost his father when he was a young boy, but still grew to be one of the world’s truly good men. He was raised in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania with his mother, Leone Burchill, and his sister, Connie Yost, both of whom predeceased him. He met the love of his life, Suzanne, in elementary school and spent the next 68 years by her side.

Dick served his country during the Vietnam War. He and Suzanne were stationed in the Philippines where he worked on aircraft electrical wiring and thereafter espoused a well-informed fear of flying.

When they returned, he and Suzanne followed the advice of other airmen who told them about the beauty of 1970s Colorado. Dick earned a bachelor’s degree at Western State College, playing basketball for the school and fishing the Gunnison, Taylor, East and Tomichi before all the private property fences went up. After, they moved to Longmont where he worked in the St. Vrain Valley School District for years as a PE teacher and Community Schools Director. He was awarded Community School Educator of the Year in 1983 and was recognized for his excellent organizational skills, his fundraising ability, his work establishing the school district’s first preschool, and for assisting other districts in starting their own. Dick touched the lives of many kids, none more so than his sons.

Dick loved his boys and was always willing to play basketball or video games, go fishing or hunting, or build r.c. model cars. As they grew, he helped them with fix-it projects and was able to show them how to measure and how to use tools, although he never had the privilege of the same instruction from his father. More than that, through his example--and sometimes with sheer, blunt advice--he showed them how to be gentlemen, how to be a faithful spouse, and how to be good humans.

Dick loved food and never saw a buffet he didn’t like. He enjoyed golf, but he loved the jokes that went along with it more. He was always ready with a quick remark but was willing to be the butt of other’s ribbing, too. His wide smile and infectious laughter will be missed forever.

Dick was a devout Christian and took comfort in Jesus’ teachings.

Dick leaves behind his beloved wife of 59 years, Suzanne, his sons Heath (Shea), and Adam, his granddaughters Finn and Sawyer, as well as his cousin, George, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Dick’s was a life well-lived, and his influence will carry on in all of those who knew and loved him.