Richard Michael Kassel

TEMPE – In loving memory of Richard Michael Kassel who passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on July 10, 2018. Rick was born on September 3, 1932 in Detroit Michigan, to Alexander and Sophie Kozlowski and he was the youngest of six children. While attending Pershing High School in Detroit, he met his loving wife of 62 years, Maryann (Rundell). Their devoted love for each other over the years is storybook.

After Rick received his degree from Wayne State University in Michigan, they moved to Tempe in 1966 where they raised two beautiful daughters, Victoria Marie and Kristine Michelle (Jon Dolgaard) and enjoyed spending time with stepgranddaughter, Shelby Dolgaard. The family attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, where Rick was a Lay Minister and an active volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He also enjoyed a successful career as a Design Engineer at AiResearch, Garrett, Allied Signal and retired from Honeywell.

Rick was a quiet and gentle soul and he enjoyed spending time hiking and photographing the Arizona desert, including the Superstition Mountains, the Grand Canyon, Paria Canyon and Aravaipa Canyon. Vacations were spent camping and hiking in the National Parks and in the Canadian Rockies, where he shared his love and appreciation of nature with his family. After retiring he also became an active volunteer with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and at the Desert Botanical Garden, where he continued sharing his knowledge of the desert.

We already miss his smile, big blue eyes and his sense of humor.

There will be a small celebration of life on Sunday, July 29 from 2pm-4pm at Shalimar Golf Club in Tempe. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Richard M Kassel Scholarship. Please make checks payable to the ASU Foundation and mail to ASU Foundation, Office of Scholarship Advancement, P.O. Box 2260, Tempe, AZ 85280.