Richard Donald "Dick" Mandell

Dr. Richard Donald Mandell COLUMBIA - Dick Mandell was born in Gross Pointe Farms, Michigan, October 19, 1929. He died June 23, 2013. Dick attended Wayne State University for undergraduate work. He travelled extensively in post WWII Europe, part of the time as a Merchant Marine, becoming fluent in several languages. He obtained his M.A. from the University of Colorado in 1959 in History. He obtained his Ph.D. in European History from the University of California, Berkely, while simultaneously obtaining a Master's in Library Science. He was a bibliographer at the University of California for a year before becoming an Associate Professor of History at York University in Toronto, Canada. His distinguished career in Modern European History at the University of South Carolina began in 1966. He retired in 1992 as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Dick published six books that were translated into many languages, earning him a reputation as a preeminent historian of the history of sport, with an emphasis on the history of the Olympics. His books included: Paris 1900, The First Modern Olympics, The Nazi Olympics, The Professor Game, The Olympics 1972: A Munich Diary, and Sport: A Cultural History. He was successful as a buyer and seller of houses and property in Columbia, SC. Dick loved classical music and opera. He took great joy in collecting art and had an incredible "eye" for beautiful art work. He had collections of European 20th Century bronze statues and Guatemalan textiles, masks, jade and other folk art. Early in his adulthood he collected American art pottery and gave his collection to the University of South Carolina McKissick Museum. Dick curated several collections for the Columbia Museum of Art. A lifelong athlete, he was an avid bicyclist and one collection he curated for the Museum was on the art of the bicycle. Two other collections he curated were for his personal collections of bronzes and Guatemalan textiles. He was one of the first people in Columbia to adopt running as a lifestyle. He also participated avidly in bike races and many sprint triathalons. Dick married Elizabeth Mandell "Betty" on December 28, 1952. They had four children whom he dearly loved and was very proud of: Victoria Mandell, Eleanor Mandell (Max Belcher), Max Mandell (Kristina Mandell), and Isabelle Mandell. Dick also had five grandchildren, also dearly loved and a source of pride for him: Amelia Mandell, Sophia Mandell, Claire Martin, Jake Sawyer and Aaron Sawyer. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Norma Mandell, and his two brothers, Dave and Dan Mandell. Dick lived a highly adventurous life and participated fully in what the world had to offer. To quote a dear friend, "I have never known anyone who pushed himself so hard; he was always on the outer edge. Dick packed more into his 83 years than ordinary people would have in several lifetimes." A private graveside service will be held and visitation will be at 920 Maple St., Columbia SC, from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mepkin Abbey, 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, 843-761-8509. Dick very much loved and appreciated his time there.