Richard "Dick" Hunter
- September 28, 2023
July 30, 1931
Richard A. Hunter (Dick), born July 30, 1931, in Santa Rosa, CA to Arel and Thelma Hunter, passed away peacefully in his sleep after a lengthy illness on September 28, 2023, with his beloved wife, Marilyn, by his side.
Dick attended high school and junior college in Santa Rosa, where he played varsity basketball. At the start of the Korean War, Dick joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served on the U.S.S. Forrest Royal for over 3 ½ years. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Dick reenrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College where he took his first accounting class, which was the start of his future career. He transferred to San Francisco State University, graduated from there in 1957 with a degree in accounting, and was hired by the firm of Arthur Andersen. Dick worked in Andersen’s San Francisco office for 32 years, retiring in 1988 as a tax partner. He was very proud of the fact that he was one of the first 150 persons to be promoted to partner in the worldwide firm. His area of expertise was estate and wealth planning.
The most important event in Dick’s life occurred when, prior to entering the service, he met his future wife, Marilyn (Malvino) Hunter; they corresponded throughout the war. Dick married the love of his life on February 5, 1955, and they were happily married for 68 years. After first living in an apartment in San Francisco, Dick and Marilyn moved to Terra Linda in 1959 where they raised five sons. Dick was active in several organizations; he served on the original Board of Directors of the Terra Linda Athletic Association, was Chairman of the Tax Accounting Conference for the CA CPA Society and coached several of his son’s baseball and basketball teams. However, Dick would tell you that his greatest achievement and joy, outside of his family, was his involvement with Marin Country Club. Dick joined the club in 1966 and golfed regularly into his 80s. In 1975, he led a group of MCC members to acquire ownership of the club and was subsequently elected the club’s first President in 1976 and reelected in 1977. In 1997, the MCC members presented Dick with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for his dedication and service to the club over the years.
Dick and Marilyn loved to travel with family and friends, including extensive world travel on cruise ships, family vacations to Disneyland, the family cabin in Arnold and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and annual trips to the AT&T (formerly Crosby) Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach. Dick was also a huge sports fan, particularly the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and had season tickets for both teams for decades.
Dick is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Marilyn, five sons Daniel (Debra), Andrew (Justine), Joseph, Tom (Catherine) and Kirk (Anastasia), thirteen grandchildren ( Jack, Elizabeth, Montana (Ryan) Sweigart, Cole, Chase, Christian, Joseph, Nathan, Massimo, Julia, James, Benjamin and William), his brother David, sisters-in-law Marie Hunter and Joan Malvino, numerous nephews and nieces, and his faithful furry companion, Curly. The family would like to acknowledge and thank Peni “Ben” Sokini for the care and compassion he expertly provided to Dick for the last 8 years. Dick was a devoted husband and father with a great sense of humor and always ready for a good time. He took great pride in his family and leaves an incredible legacy and will be greatly missed, but we are comforted by the fact that he is at peace.
Services will be held October 10, 2023, at 11:00am at St. Isabella’s Church, 1 Trinity Way, San Rafael, CA 94903.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Dick’s honor to one of his favorite charities, The Wounded Warriors Project or the St. Isabella St. Vincent de Paul Society.