Obituaries
Richard F. Vincent
Richard “Dick” Vincent, 89, died peacefully Thursday, July 29 at twilight in the comfort of his home of more than 55 years with his wife Audrey at his side. Born February 14, 1921 in Fitchburg, MA of Alfred N. and Dorothy Cass Vincent, he never forgot his French Canadian and New England mill town roots.
A graduate of Tufts University (B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1942) at the beginning of WWII, Dick joined the Navy, assigned to Reserve Midshipman Class U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned Ensign. He did postgraduate mechanical engineering at Penn State University, assigned Mine Forces, South Pacific, Commanding Officer USS Chauvenet AGS11, (Auxiliary Hydrographic Survey Vessel) then Executive Officer USS Chimo ACMI (Mine-layer). He mustered out as Lieutenant Commander in 1946. A lasting memory was his experience entering Hiroshima after the bomb was dropped and meeting Japanese survivors whose polite and generous behavior toward the American victors stunned him and fostered a lifelong interest in cultural exchanges.
Upon being discharged he settled in Southern California with his new wife Patricia Rymer, whom he had met previously on leave. So began a marriage of 20 years, which ended with her death in 1966.
Dick began his career working in the oil industry on Signal Hill for Texaco. He held positions from foreman to superintendent as he moved to Santa Fe Springs, Montebello, San Ardo (Mendocino County) and ultimately Ventura County.
Dick’s zest for life and people was reflected in his many and wide-ranging interests. Active with the Sierra Club now more than 60 years, he met Audrey Wise, high school teacher, on a cycling trip. Married in June of 1967, their shared love of wilderness, the arts, music, film, history, and travel, shared political and religious perspectives and support of progressive causes led to their long marriage of 43 years. Even this year, although frail, he regularly attended the Santa Paula Theater Center productions and kept seats with two symphony organizations in Santa Barbara, always so glad he could still enjoy the theater as well as live classical music by world-class symphony orchestras.
Always keenly interested in working abroad, in 1976 he was seconded by Texaco to Oil Service Company of Iran as Manager of Operations of a project that would have sent huge volumes of gas to the then Soviet Union. The project was suddenly abandoned in 1979 with the coming of the Khomeini revolution. Dick ended his 38-year career in Aberdeen, Scotland, first as offshore installation manager working on the Tartan platform in the North Sea, then promoted to district manager for Scotland. It was here at the University of Aberdeen’s College of Divinity that Audrey began seminary in preparation for the Unitarian Universalist ministry, which Dick grew to ardently support. He retired in 1984 to return to his favorite home place, Santa Paula, only to leave periodically to visit Audrey during her ministries in San Diego County and then Savannah, Georgia.
Dick’s political sensibilities developed early on when his father, a Massachusetts delegate, took him at age 10 and his mother to the 1932 National Democratic Convention. He maintained Democratic ties through the years, and was an original member of the Santa Clara Valley Democratic Club. The Santa Paula Rotary Club, president 1962-63, was also important; he rarely missed a meeting here or afar when travelling or living abroad.
Dick felt close to the immigrant experience, having felt the fear of the outsider on occasion as he was growing up in New England. He was a strong supporter of farm workers and education for Latinos, particularly Latinas. A man of strong opinions, he found a home in the Universalist Unitarian Church where he served two terms as president of the board of trustees.
The family wishes to extend their appreciation and gratitude to Assisted Home Hospice, Annette Vera, and Patricia Valencia for their compassionate care and personal attention during Dick’s final days.
Dick is survived by his wife, Audrey; his sisters Margaret Thompson of Minneapolis and Phyllis Eckfeldt of Fitchburg; and seven nieces and nephews.
A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 740 E. Main St., Santa Paula, with Rev. Carolyn Price officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Leaming Capital Fund of the Universalist Unitarian Church, 740 E. Main St. Santa Paula, or the Santa Paula Rotary Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 809, Santa Paula, CA., 93061.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to the care of Funeraria del ángel Stetler Mortuary, 128 S. 8th St., Santa Paula. Ashes will be scattered over Santa Paula Peak at a later date.
