Richard E. Spatz

SPATZ RICHARD E. SPATZ ("DICK")
Richard E. Spatz ("Dick") peacefully went to be with his Lord June 23, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. Dick was born in Oil City, PA June 7, 1925, the first child and son of Rhea J. and John M. Spatz. He and his sisters (Jeanine Houck and Pat Reich) moved to Pittsburgh, where Dick spent the rest of his life, living in Bellevue, Perrysville, North Hills and, finally Sewickley. He was devoted to his God, his country and his family. A close fourth was Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh sports teams, all of which he followed avidly. Dick attended West View High School, where he was Class President and graduated as valedictorian. He played on the basketball team and played the trumpet in the school marching band. Following high school, he attended Haverford College until he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he became a Sgt. with the 84th Division. He and his comrades dug foxholes and fought their way across Belgium and Germany. They were in the heart of the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Aachen and the crossing of the Rhine. Dick was wounded twice and awarded the Purple Heart. Following the end of the war, Dick returned to Haverford College and, later, got his law degree from the University of Michigan. Dick became a lawyer with Koppers Company, in Pittsburgh, where he spent his entire career, finally retiring as President of the Forest Products and Plastics division. Not content to simply enjoy his retirement, he founded Preservation Technologies L.P. to provide a much needed solution to the problem of acidification and deterioration of paper from ageing. PTLP is now a thriving company based in Cranberry, PA with plants and equipment in six countries, primarily servicing libraries, archives, and consumers. The company counts the Library of Congress as its largest customer, and recently expanded its service offer into the restoration and preservation of audio-visual media. Dick was enormously proud of the success of PTLP. It was during his time at Haverford that Dick met his first wife, Jeanne A. McFarland of Collegeville, PA. Jeanne and Dick were married for over 50 years and had four sons before her untimely passing several years ago. A devoted father, Dick passed on his love for Pittsburgh sports and golf to his four sons. In his final round before his passing at age 83, Dick shot par on his last 3 holes, an achievement he promised to bring to the attention of the Almighty. Dick was a longtime member of the Duquesne Club and Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. Having a little extra time on his hands, Dick wrote a book, "The History of Allegheny Country Club - The First One Hundred Years", including photographs taken by his son Jim, and thus added the title of 'published author' to his long list of achievements. Dick liked to joke that the first printing of his book was dominated by customers with the last name of Spatz, but the truth is that his book is treasured by members of Allegheny as the definitive, and very readable, history of the club. Dick was a devoted parishioner of Christ Episcopal Church in the North Hills and, after moving to Sewickley, St. Stephens Church. It was at St. Stephens that he met his second wife, Shannon. Although their time together was too brief, Shannon was a great blessing in his life and brought much love, energy and happiness to Dick and his family. Dick was preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanne A. Spatz, son John K. Spatz, and sister Jeanine Houck. He is held in loving memory by his wife, Shannon and his surviving children, Richard E. Spatz Jr. and his wife Laura of Williamsburg, Virginia; and Jeffrey M. Spatz and his wife Paige of Houston, Texas; and James P. Spatz of Boonsboro, Maryland; and his daughter- in-law Peggy I. Spatz of Harrisburg. He also is survived by his 9 grandchildren, Rachel, Megan, Emma, Erin, John, Kristen, Erik, Jonathan and Jennifer. Services will be held at St. Stephens Church in Sewickley this Saturday at 11:00. A brief reception will be held at the church following the service. Dick will be laid to rest at Allegheny County Memorial Park Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Donations in his honor, in lieu of flowers, may be made to St. Stephens Memorial Fund 405 Frederick Ave., Sewickley, PA 15143 and the Church Army USA P.O. Box 178 Leetsdale, PA, 15056-0178. Arrangements by COPELAND'S.
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