Richard Osorio

Richard Gene Osorio Resident of Berkeley passed away peacefully at his Berkeley home with family and friends at his side on November 12, 2010. Richard was a children's librarian at the Hayward Public Library for more than 24 years and before that at the Alameda County Library, taking a 5-year break to travel to India. He was an accomplished story-teller and magician enthralling thousands of children throughout the years. Born on July 10, 1930, Richard had a rich and varied life. He grew up in Alameda and attended UC Berkeley where he played football as one of "Pappy's Boys"; he was a Marine during the Korean War; graduated from UCLA, and was in the MBA program at Harvard before deciding to work in theater. During the 1960s in New York, he worked as a general or company manager for 16 Broadway shows, including the original Broadway "Hair." An avid Salsa, tango and swing dancer, he and his wife Cara danced through life and traveled extensively around the world. Recently, the City of Hayward awarded Richard the Heart of S.E.R.V.I.C.E. award for his years of exemplary service. Flags flew at half-mast at Hayward City Hall in his honor on November 15. Richard was a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He leaves his wife and love of his life, Cara Robin Osorio; daughter Miranda Robin-Thurmer; brother George (Pat) Osorio, nephews Chris, Mark, Gregory, Mathew and David Osorio, niece Mary Osorio and nephew Robert Gertz.