Richard Andrew Sebek

1930 - 2015

April 4, 1930 - June 4, 2015 Richard Andrew Sebek, 85, died on June 4th, 2015 at St. Bernadine's hospital in San Bernardino, California. Richard "Dick" Sebek was born on April 4th, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Andrew and Mary Sebek. Orphaned as a young boy, he was raised by his Aunt Mary Kendzicky in Byesville, Ohio. While attending Byesville High school, he was a three sport star, anchoring the baseball team's infield at third base and captaining the school's football and basketball teams. As a senior he was also class president. After graduating in 1948, he joined the US Navy and served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic on the USS Essex in the Korean War until his honorable discharge in 1952. He returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Joann Sikora, in 1953. Four children followed as he began working on the flight line building jet fighter planes at North American Aviation in Columbus, Ohio. He attended night school and advanced his technical aviation skills which lead to promotions into technical writing/publications and then management positions with both NAA-Rockwell and later at Northrop Grumman in California where he supported the B-2 stealth bomber until his retirement in 1995. He devoted his free time to his wife, raising his children, grandchildren, home projects, and golf. He was an avid golfer who taught himself to play in his early 30's and worked to become a low handicap player by his 40's. He also enjoyed watching Ohio State football and basketball, the LA Lakers and Clippers, and Angel's baseball. He is preceded in death by his mother Mary (Merva) Sebek, father Andrew Sebek, and sister Marjorie Briggs. He is survived by his loving wife, Joann Sebek; Children Richard M. Sebek, Esquire (wife Joan Corces, Esquire), Joan Paul (husband Carey Paul, MD), David Sebek and John Sebek; Grandchildren Nicholas Paul (wife Jillian), Kristen Paul, MD, Alexander Paul, Esquire (wife Alexandra), Isabella C. Sebek and Richard Andrew "Andy" Sebek; and great-grandson Connor Paul. Dick was a hardworking, honorable and reserved man who addressed life's difficulties head-on, often turning adversity into positive results. Orphaned at an early age, he was a self-made man who took charge of his life with passion and determination. He took great pride in and truly loved his family, which he considered his greatest life achievement. Services will be held at 11:00 AM on June 22, 2015 at Saint Paul's church in Chino Hills, California. The family requests donations to the American Heart Association in his memory in lieu of flowers.