Richard Pfister

Dr. Richard G. Pfister, Ph.D.

East Lansing

After a long and wonderful life, Richard passed away at the age of 89 on December 29, 2015. He left in the same spirit of selflessness and peace that he taught us for so many years. His life was full of many accomplishments, both personal and professional.

Richard had a wonderful childhood growing up on a northern Michigan farm in Merritt, Michigan. He raised his own turkeys as a youth and used those profits to put himself through college at Michigan State University.

Dick enlisted in the Navy and served his country during WWII as an aerographer and meteorologist. He was intensely proud of his service and was a patriotic man who loved his country.

It was during his Navy service in New Jersey that Richard met the love of his life, Lydia. He earned his B.S. degree from MSU in the areas of math and education and he and Lydia married and moved to Michigan. For the rest of their lives, Richard and Lydia remained incredibly close, deeply in love and were the light of each other's lives.

In 1950, Richard accepted a position as a teacher of Vocational Agriculture at Imlay City High School. Dick pursued his Master's degree at MSU and earned a Doctoral degree in the fields of safety, education and agriculture. He became an accomplished professor and also collaborated in many state and federal programs teaching and doing research.

By then Dick and Lydia had three girls who they were bringing up to be confident, independent young ladies in their own right. They set a wonderful example for their children. Dick taught his children there was nothing they could not do or accomplish if they put their minds to it.  To this day, they live up to this standard.

In the world of academia, Richard contributed a combination of sharp intellect with common sense to the education community. He was a professor, dynamic teacher and lecturer, lifelong scholar, extension specialist and published author. He wrote forty bulletins and twenty technical papers and retired in 1982. One of his finest accomplishments was his primary role in the implementation of the mandatory seat belt legislation and the design and regulations requiring slow moving vehicle signs. His contributions in these fields have saved many lives.

During his career, Richard was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be a member of the National Advisory Committee on safety. He presented agricultural safety seminars outside the state and country. He was appointed by Governor Milliken to help draft a state plan for Occupational Safety and Health. He chaired the U.S. Department of Labor's Advisory Committee on Agricultural Standards and also served on the OSHA Review Commission for Michigan for ten years. He was a recipient of numerous awards and accolades which he was too humble to ever mention. When offered a position in Washington, DC, he declined because it was not the environment where he wanted to raise a family of three little girls.

After retirement in 1982, Richard pursued his passions for gardening, fishing, golfing, walking and long distance bicycling. But his greatest passion was for his family and helping them become productive citizens prepared to contribute to society. He was the best husband, father and grandfather one could imagine.

He was an honorable, kind gentleman who loved nature and being outdoors. He was respected by his family, friends and neighbors and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Delma, Emil and Alice and son-in-law Alfred.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Lydia; daughters Linda Fuller, Mary (Tom) Bradley and Nancy (Randy) Erridge; grandchildren Shaun, Kelly, Brian, Jeff, Nick, NiCole, Matt and Meghan; great-grandchildren Lydia, Samson, Jacob, Clayton and Macy.

In the style of a lifelong educator, Richard has donated his body to MSU's willed body program so others could learn from him even after death. He always referred to this as his opportunity "to go back to college". A private family celebration of his life is being planned by the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the National Parks Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240,  National Audubon Society, 4316 Forest Park Drive, Jackson, MS 39211, or Future Farmers of America, Foundation, P. O. Box 26111, Lansing, MI 48909-9964.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing Chapel.  Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.