Richard (Dick) Lundquist
October 2, 1945 – December 31, 2023
Richard was born in New York City, New York, son of the late Carl and Marjorie Lundquist. He started his life on Long Island in New York, moving to Columbus, Ohio as a pre-teen. He attended The Ohio State University, graduating in 1966 with a degree in business administration and economics. While at OSU, he met his future wife, Judith.
After graduating from OSU, Richard joined the Teacher Corps and was placed in Omaha, Nebraska, where he began a long career in education. Duties throughout his career included teaching, counseling, ACT/SAT prep courses, football game supervision, directing parking lot traffic, and lunchroom supervision. Dick spent most of his 35-year career at Westside High School in Omaha, a place he loved with all his heart. He guided hundreds of students through their high school years and helped them prepare for their futures. He especially enjoyed the years that his own children attended Westside, sharing rides to school and bantering in the halls.
Richard retired from Westside in 2005 and began his second career as a family therapist at Arbor Family Counseling. He loved making a difference in the lives of his clients, maintaining contact with some of them long after the formal relationships concluded.
Growing up with a father who was a sportswriter, Richard maintained a lifelong interest in sports. He was particularly a fan of both Ohio State and Nebraska, and had season tickets to the Huskers for many years.
Richard loved talking to people and wanted to make a connection with everyone he encountered. He was known for asking endless questions and enthusiastically using the basic Spanish he learned during a semester in Mexico City as a college student. He was fond of telling long, frequently embellished stories which were entertaining even if the truth was stretched or fabricated. Never shy about his nickname, he was particularly proud to hold a lifetime membership in the “Dicks of America” club.
Above all, Richard was caring, optimistic and helpful, always putting others before himself. This continued through his final days, offering advice to others in need, looking after his family, volunteering as an announcer for AllPlay baseball, sponsoring a teaching award at Westside, and generally seeking to leave the world a better place than he found it.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judith; daughters Diana, and Kristina Leeper (Randy); son David (Lesley); grandchildren Erika, Nathan, Gavin, and Isla; sister Susan Schwadron; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many beloved friends.
*It should be noted that if Richard had written this obituary, it would be triple the length and would likely include random anecdotes such as the time he almost got stung by a scorpion, or the time he chopped down a ‘free to a good home’ 20 foot diameter Christmas tree and squeezed it into a room that had to be cleared of furniture to make space for the tree. Or about the time he busted his collarbone while running, and then insisted on climbing a ladder on a hill to paint the house with his arm in a sling. He might also mention the time his sister printed 144 photos of the two of them on a Harley and taped them to the walls of his cabin at a family reunion, or the time he wore his daughter’s ill-fitting capri pants as a joke to pick his son up at the airport. He would also probably mention the time he successfully lit 159 candles on a single 3-person birthday cake. As always, with Dick there would be laughter and fun. Our lives were brighter for his presence and he will be greatly missed by all.
Visitation: Thursday, January 4, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Memorial Service: Friday, January 5, 1:00
Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler 7805 W. Center Rd.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to:
The Lundquist Excellence in Teaching Award through the Westside Community Schools Foundation or to the AllPlay Miracle Buddy Baseball League.
16 Comments
Thinking of you and your family. Dick was a unique treasure and he will be missed by many. His spirit will walk the halls of Westside High School for years to come. Sincerest sympathies.
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My love goes out to you Judi, as well as to Kristina, Diana, David and all the grandchildren. As described in your obituary, and as you well know, Dick was greater than life itself. His spirit was like a beacon of light that lit up everything he touched. And as Dick would have likely agreed, to say he was an unforgettable character, would be a mammoth understatement. He was a tremendous positive influence for many, and that included me.
Judi, as you shared your life with Dick, you many times had to share him with the rest of his world. In the same way, your grief is shared by all those whose lives he touched. His love and pride for his family was so great, I simply cannot adequately express it in words. He leaves me with the knowledge that he celebrated his life everyday because you all were a part of it. You were all loved so much by him. For that and more, I loved him too.
He will be greatly missed.
Dick was a great colleague and a tireless advocate for kids. The team at WHS was awesome for all the 13 years I spent there. I’’m sure that he’s taking in a celestial baseball game😉
I was lucky enough to have Mr. Lundquist as a counselor at Westside before he retired, and I will always remember his wonderful personality towards all students and staff. My thoughts and prayers are with the family in this time.
What a loss to the Omaha community is the death of Dick Lundquist. He was a friend and mentor to adults, adolescents, and children, valued for his rich sense of humor and unwavering commitment to excellence in education. For several years, in the early ‘70s he guided us with enthusiasm, insight, and laughter in our roles as counselors in the Westside School District. Thereafter, we remained friends through many opportunities to share visits in Colorado, Nebraska, and Texas. His humor was infectious and, over the years, we spent hours in robust laughter to Dick’s stories and antics. Our sincere wish is that Judy and the family may overcome their grief and celebrate his life. Your love and beautiful memories of Dick will bring you strength in the coming days. Dick was one of a kind and a special friend to us.
A wonderful tribute to a wonderful human being. Dick was a kind, caring man, husband and father. A great loss to so many.
Dick was such a wonderful mentor and leader. I miss his humor and his insights.. I will always treasure the years I spent working with him.
It was a pleasure to had meet Dick. I know he will be dearly missed by many.
Jon and I extend our sympathies to the Lundquist family. He was such a big part of the Westside guidance staff during our time as students and his impact on our lives — and the lives of so many students over the years — will be felt for many years.
– Jon & Bridget Brooks (WHS ’91)
I remember Mr. Lundquist with respect and warmth, from my years at Westside as a student. He was constantly present, interested, and encouraging with us students. I will remember him at Mass this weekend and pray that God comfort all his family and friends.
Judy, Kristina, Di and family, I was so sorry to hear of your loss. He definitely lit up a room and had people laughing. Thinking of you all during this difficult time. Our condolences.
We are deeply saddened to hear of Dick’s passing. It was a pleasure to work alongside him to provide the Lundquist Excellence in Teaching Award to so many bright and deserving educators in the Westside Community School district. He will be greatly missed.
He is missed!
A good friend who will be missed!
Dick and Judith are two people who truly made a difference in our lives. I met Dick 60 years to the day he was admitted, Dec 29, 1964. We were headed to Mexico City for a quarter of college at the University of the Americas. We became friends exploring Taxco, San Miguel Allende, Acapulco and even ‘discovering’ Zihuatanejo. We also climbed to the peak of Nevado de Toluca. Dick sponsored me into Phi Kappa Tau at Ohio State. I went to their wedding. When we were assigned to Offutt AFB in 1977 we were accepted into their family. We visited, we mailed, we emailed, we talked over our entire lives. Dick was one of the kindest, sweetest, funniest, most loving people I have ever known. He is my Brother who I will see soon enough. I found this wonderful saying, “Grief is love with no place to go”. We are all grieving my friend………Mike and Barbara Todaro
Dick Lundquist was my homeroom teacher and guidance counselor for three years. He was a peach, a prince, and fine and good a human being as anyone I’ve met before or since.
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