Richard Cain Gaunt

1947 - 2017

Richard Cain Gaunt, 70, beloved husband for 40 years of Janet Scully Gaunt, died on Friday, September 1, at home. The son of John and Jean McAnaw Gaunt, Richard was born on May 18, 1947, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. As the son of a U.S. Army colonel, Richard traveled widely during his youth, living in Japan, Germany, and France. He finished high school at Fort Dix, NJ in 1965 and enrolled at Georgetown University, graduating in 1969 from the School of Foreign Service. Richard began his career in Information Technology and moved to Dallas, TX in 1976, where he met the love of his life, Janet Scully. They were married at the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, NM on a brilliantly sunny July 30, 1977, and settled in Dallas. Consummate hosts, Jan and Rick have welcomed countless guests to their beautiful home, sparing no effort to treat everyone who visits with the greatest of care. Their shared passion for travel took the couple to Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, England, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Russia, several islands in the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii and many other destinations in the USA. To know Rick was to love him, and he was loved by many. A gentle soul, he was soft-spoken, generous, and kind. His sharp-witted intellect, sense of humor, and willingness to listen made him a thoroughly engaging conversationalist. He was known for his ongoing philosophical and theological discussions with his younger brothers. Rick was genuinely interested in the insights of younger people - particularly those in his family - and they loved to talk with him about the world as they saw it. In addition to his wife Janet, Richard is survived by his three brothers and their families: Patrick Gaunt and his wife Mary Sarns of Euclid, OH; Father Thomas Gaunt, S.J. of Washington, DC; and Michael Gaunt and his wife Victoria of Baltimore, MD. Richard was predeceased by his older brother John of Washington, DC. He also leaves his sister-in-law Marilyn Walsh and her husband Don, and two brothers-in-law and their families, all of West Hartford, CT: William Scully and his wife Shelby, and John Scully and his wife Barbara. A devoted uncle, Richard leaves 13 grateful nieces and nephews, 4 grandnieces, and 3 grandnephews. Richard and Janet wish to thank Dr. Korie Flippo for her compassionate care. A memorial mass, presided by Richard's brother Father Thomas Gaunt, S.J., will be celebrated at 12:30 on Saturday, October 14, at Holy Trinity Parish, St. Ignatius Chapel, 3513 N St NW, Georgetown, Washington DC with burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, MD. A reception will follow. Donations in Rick's memory may be made to L'Arche Greater Washington DC, P.O. Box 21471, Washington, DC, 20009; All Saints Catholic Community, 5231 Meadowcreek Drive, Dallas, TX 75248; or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Dallas, 8111 LBJ Freeway #425, Dallas, TX 75251. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." John 1:5