San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Rev. Robert Nicholas Ristad, Jr.
Psychotherapy,
Nick’s passion for justice and his frustration with the inadequate concern for the incarcerated and the mentally ill shown by the government and the church led him in 1980 to found the the Robert N. and Ella S. Ristad Foundation for ministry with the marginalized. The Foundation awarded grants especially to faith-based organizations to help foster beneficial systemic changes in the criminal justice system and to support the formerly incarcerated and the mentally ill. When Nick needed to retire from such activity in about 2000, the Board of the Foundation voted to turn over management of the fund to the American Friends Service Committee.
Nick loved his family deeply, especially esteeming both his parents. He valued generosity as a legacy of his family and instilled this within his niece and nephews through his words and actions. He had a soft spot for all animals, but especially squirrels and scrub jays whom he gently groomed to take food from his hand. Plants flourished under his care and he spent many satisfied hours tending to the garden on his deck. Above all, he faithfully loved his wife, Linda, with whom he shared thirty amazing years of companionship, travel, and care of one another.
Nick and Linda lived in Vallejo, California until 2015, when they moved to Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa, California. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, the Rev. Dr. Linda Lee Clader, his sister, Paula Ristad Foege, his brother, Edwin S. Ristad, and niece and nephews Michael Foege, Robert Foege, George Ristad, Charlotte Ristad Vrobel, and Henry Ristad and their families. A memorial service will be celebrated at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Healdsburg, California, on Thursday, November 4 at 1:00 p.m. The service will be streamed live and the recorded service available on YouTube at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Healdsburg.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the American Friends Service Committee Ristad Endowment, afsc.org, or 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.