Richard Thomas Stevick

 Richard Thomas (Dick) Stevick, 69, passed away on September 26, 2022. Dick was born at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Lancaster, PA, to Richard Vernon Stevick and Margaret Elizabeth Kohl Stevick on May 28, 1953. He graduated from University of Maryland (go Terps!) in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and from George Washington University with a Master’s degree in engineering business administration in 1987. A self-proclaimed “fake engineer,” Dick dedicated himself as an Information System Security Engineer for a full 44-year career in the public and private sectors, including 27 years of service as a civil servant at the National Security Agency.

As a life-long resident of Laurel, Maryland, Dick was an active member of many communities, particularly at St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church. He became a Knight of Columbus in 1979 and was a dedicated member of Patuxent Council 2203, most recently as the Faithful Navigator of the Assembly. A talented musician, Dick played the piano, organ, and accordion for masses, weddings, scouting events, and caroling with the family. He and his wife, Doris, started and ran the Children’s Choir together for many years at St. Mary’s Church. Dick grew up in scouting and was proud to earn the highest award as a Boy Scout Eagle Scout with Troop 1250. As a parent, he was the Lay Coordinator for the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Archdiocese of Washington, scout master, troop leader, and was always the first to volunteer for a camping trip. He loved being a father to active children all year round, and the garage would be filled with Boy Scout wreaths in the fall and Girl Scout cookies in the spring. Throughout his life, Dick had many roles at the West Laurel Swim Club: swim team member as a child, lifeguard as a teenager, cheerleader and swim meet referee as a parent, and finally Treasurer as an empty nester. In his remaining free time, Dick volunteered with the Special Olympics in many roles, one of which was coaching a skiing team.

Dick valued family above all and was the proud father of 6 children and grandfather of 10 grandchildren. His Saturday morning breakfast pancakes, egg sandwiches, and bacon were often accompanied by country gospel music and dancing in the kitchen. Family time was always cherished: eating ice cream on the front porch during thunderstorms, polka dancing at Blob’s Park, skiing in the New Year, camping at National Parks across the United States, or scuba diving off boats in the Caribbean. One of Dick’s greatest honors was being awarded the 2019 Maryland State Knights of Columbus Council Family of the Year.

Dick will be missed by his wife Doris Middleton, and their children: Matthew Thomas Stevick and his wife Rebecca Mitchell, Elizabeth Runco and her husband Jeremy, Benjamin Stevick, Rebecca Stevick, Margaret Watts and her husband Andrew, and Timothy Stevick. His grandchildren: Emma Stevick, Samuel Thomas Stevick, Luke Stevick, Eleanor Stevick, John Richard Stevick, Elizabeth Watts, Calvin Runco, Jack Runco, and Hollee Watts (plus two more on the way). Finally his siblings: William Stevick and his wife Gayle, Jean Lawrence and her husband Ronald, Joseph Stevick and his wife Judith, and Catherine Kaulfuss and her husband Timothy.

Funeral arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A. Laurel, MD with a Mass of Christian burial at St Mary of the Mills, Laurel, MD followed by interment in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Richard T Stevick can be made to:

K of C Patuxent Council 2203, Charitable Corporation

C/O Patuxent Council 2203

P.O. Box 95

Laurel, MD 20725

[https://www.kofc.org/en/what-we-do/charity/index.html].

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Thomas Stevick, please visit our floral store.