Name: Visitation for Dr. Richard M. Loomis
Start: 2019-08-07T22:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-08-08T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Donovan Funeral Home - Goshen

GOSHEN, N.Y. — Dr. Richard M. Loomis, of Goshen, N.Y., passed away Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, at the age of 92.

Dr. Loomis was a Navy veteran, a college English professor, a novelist, husband, father, and grandfather. Born to Arthur and Ethel Loomis in Denver, Colo., he spent his childhood in Chicago and Cleveland. At age seventeen, he joined the Navy and served until WWII ended. Returning to college, he earned an undergraduate degree in English from John Carroll University, and, inspired by "An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine," among other writings, became a Catholic. He then joined the Trappist monastery at Gethsemani, Kentucky for three years, following which he earned a Ph.D in English from Cornell University. There he met and married Mary Guerriere, who would be his wife of 56 years until her death in 2010. He was a professor of English at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, and Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. He wrote many scholarly works as well as fictional pieces throughout his career and into retirement.

Richard is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Mario and Donna, and his four grandchildren, Joseph, Rebecca, Gabriel, and Teresa.

His bright, engaging sense of humor made him beloved by all who knew him. A longstanding source of wisdom, love, and affection for his friends and family, he will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Donovan funeral home, 82 S. Church St., Goshen, NY 10924. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, 14 Glenmere Ave., Florida, NY 10921. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Freeland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Counsel Homes: www.GoodCounselHomes.org.

Arrangements under the care of Donovan Funeral Home, Inc. To leave a condolence online please visit www.donovanfunerals.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Times Leader from Aug. 5 to Aug. 6, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Loomis

7 Entries

Patricia McHugh

December 5, 2019

Dear Mario and all the family,
I'm so sorry that your beautiful father has died. He was my English Professor at Nazareth College of Rochester in the 1970s. Those years were the best years of my life. Your father started a Welsh Club at Nazareth and he had wonderful dinners where he read aloud to us in Welsh. I brought a cake I made in the shape of Wales for the festivities and put a dot on the bottom for Swansea. I made a huge platter of shortbread cookies with walnuts in the center. I saw Dick in the halls of Nazareth before the Dinner and he was so excited by my homeade contributions. I was so happy. I loved my Welsh Studies Program and Dick knew how to teach with the light touch. He was a born teacher. He used wit and encouragement to drive us on to more and more learning. We couldn't wait to come to his class.

He asked us to perform a play based on one of the Cantebury Tales. I was the Costume Designer. I used my sister's white, ostrich feathered hat for one of the actresses. It was a beautiful creation. We all had fun and learned more and we experienced the love of Theater that Dick possessed.

Dick was a very sacred man. His faith was a very special part of him. God gave him many gifts and he honored Our Lord by using them to the fullest.

Dick gave me courage to try to do what I wanted to do as I developed and matured as an Adult. I became a Public Librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library and I served thousands of Children over my career. I loved Children's Literature and Dick did too.

After Nazareth, I felt privileged to continue to be a friend of Dick's. Sadly, I lost touch with him over the last few years. Tonight I tried to email him with the last email he had. When it didn't go through, I searched for him online and found that he had died. Now he is home with God whom he loved so much.

I was so lucky to have Dr. Richard M. Loomis some into my life. He made me better. He showed me how to love God each and every day, in a simple and lovely way. Mario and family, you have my morale support. I am so glad that you all had this wonderful man in your lives. He was a gift and blessing from God.
With Kindness,

August 27, 2019

I was in the English Department at Nazareth from 1977 to 1981, joining the faculty when I was a clueless 25-year-old in his third year of teaching. Dick was a friendly, welcoming presence when I first came, and a consistently supportive presence thereafter. He also taught me enough Welsh pronunciation to save me from making a total fool of myself when I first traveled to Wales. In the comments that I've read here, the word "gentle" appears several times, and it's hard to think of an adjective more apt for Dick. In Great Expectations, where Pip aspires to nothing more than to become a "gentleman," he finally realizes that earning this label is more a matter of gentleness than gentility, and that the man who truly models gentlemanly behavior is the rustic, untaught Joe Gargery. And, as Joe nurses Pip through his nearly fatal illness, he achieves his epiphany when he's able to say, "God bless this gentle Christian man!" Applying this sentiment to Dick, I can only say, "Amen."

Eric Schantz

August 25, 2019

Just now, I suddenly got the urge to search for Dick Loomis's name on the internet (I'm sure it was him tapping me on the shoulder,) and found this obituary. He taught me many courses in English Literature at Nazareth College, and more than anyone else in college shaped my thinking and faith. He was always genuinely decent to me, and was a true friend, teacher, and mentor. I love the writings of C.S. Lewis, and used to dream of what it would have been like to have Lewis as a teacher of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Oxford and Cambridge. I got all of that and more in Dr. Richard Loomis. He nurtured in me the love of learning and the desire for God. He freely gave his friendhip to me. For all of this, I am truly grateful to have known him and called him Friend.

Mary Van Keuren

August 20, 2019

Dick Loomis was my English professor at Nazareth College many years ago and subsequently became a dear friend. I am the person I am today because of his influence. This brilliant, profoundly kind man was a superb educator, a wise counselor, and a true Christian. The world is a better place for his presence in it. Rest in Peace, Dick.

Terri, Michael & Lucia Kennedy

August 12, 2019

To Mario Loomis & Family
We wanted to say how sorry we are on your fathers passing. Your mother Mary and my mother( Theresa Pignatari Kushner & my uncle Bernard Pignatari) were cousins. We noticed your father's grave on Friday at the cementary. I remember your father coming to visit the homestead in Freeland. He was a gentle, kind & intelligent man who made you feel welcome.
Our condolences to you & your family.
And everytime we go to the cementary we will make a visit to see your parents.

MARY ANN PISTACK

August 10, 2019

JUST HEARD OF YOUR FATHERS PASSING. HE AND YOUR MOTHER WERE SOME OF THE NICEST, GRACIOUS AND LOVING PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET. YOUR DAD WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR STARTING THE WEDNESDAY ROSARY AT ST. BENEDICT'S CHURCH, WHICH IS STILL BEING DONE TO THIS VERY DAY. GOD REST THEIR SOULS AND THEY AND YOUR FAMILY WILL BE IN OUR PRAYERS. REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND....

Renee HARRIS

August 7, 2019

To the Family of Richard. Your father will be missed by us all it was a pleasure to have know him. He was always happy he will be missed at our table everyday that we saw him. Our Family would like to express our Condolences to the Loomis Family. Thoughts and Prayers to you all.

The Harris Family

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