(AGENPARL) – STANFORD (CA) gio 20 aprile 2023

This obituary was published by the Santa Maria Times from Jan. 10 to Jan. 17, 2023.

Richard Weldon was born on June 28, 1928 in Santa Maria to Olga Giacomini and Thomas Weldon Jr. He attended Miller and El Camino Schools and graduated from Santa Maria High School in 1946. From there he went to Stanford University where he was a member of the Varsity Golf Team, earning his letter, and the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He graduated in 1950 and went on to Stanford Law School where he graduated in 1953. While attending his friend Jack Adam’s wedding, Dick met Marilyn Myers, Jack’s cousin. They married in 1955 and had 4 children: Marilee Weldon Abel (Robert), Steven (Terri), Tony (Ruth), and Rich (Donell).

Upon passing the CA Bar, Dick went to work as an attorney with his father. He LOVED his work as an attorney and was known for the late hours spent at the office. Though he worked long hours, he was always home for dinner with his family where he would catch up on all the events of the day. Dick later partnered with Ernest DeGasparis and actively practiced law until medical issues forced his retirement at the age of 92.

Dick was a lifelong member of St Mary’s Catholic Church where he served as a lector for Sunday Mass. He was active with the Santa Maria Elks Club and served as the 34th Exalted Ruler following in his father’s footsteps. He briefly taught adult education at Hancock College, was an arbitrator of the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Superior court arbitration panels, served as President, Treasurer, and Director of the Northern Santa Barbara County Bar Association, and served as President of the Southside Little League. He was a member of the Santa Maria Rotary Club. He was very generous with his time, speaking at multiple business functions throughout the Santa Maria Valley.

Golf was Dick’s activity of choice and every Saturday he could be found at the Santa Maria Country Club. He insisted on walking the 18 holes and always carried his own clubs. Even as his golfing buddies passed, he continued the Saturday tradition alone. On occasion he shot his age or lower in his later years, which was quite a feat! He served as President of the Santa Maria Country club for several years.

Another of Dick’s passions was stream fishing. He spent many summer weeks as a child at his Uncle Zan’s Montana ranch fishing the local creek for Rainbow Trout. He carried this late into his adult years, taking the family on vacations to fish, sightsee, and enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife of Montana.

Dick was an avid collector and historian of all things Santa Maria Valley and was one of the founders of the Santa Maria Historical Society. His office was a collection point for various pictures and memorabilia. He loved to sit and share stories of the valley’s past, and welcomed all those who shared this love of the valley. He gave the first Valley Speaks presentation, passing many copies of pictures he had acquired throughout the years. He spoke several more times and graduated to a power point presentation at his last speaking event. It was quite an accomplishment for him!

We will miss our visits to the office (where we couldn’t help but comment on his unique filing system ), the random newspaper clippings and magazine articles that he would send our way, the calm he would provide during uncertain times, and the generosity that was always a given.

Dick is survived by his wife of 67 years, his four children, and grandchildren Allyson Appel (Jeff), Robbie Abel (Nicole), Kristen Carless (Nick), Joshua Weldon, Shawn Weldon, Celia Barbro (Jon), Christina Jackson, and Taylor Weldon. He had 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Tonya Bertero Weldon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Thomas, and numerous cousins who were lifelong friends.

Fonte/Source: https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-lawyer/articles/richard-weldon-jd-53-ab-50-1928-2023/