Richard Francis Gorini

Richard 'Dick' Gorini, age 83, of Rockaway, OR, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 04, 2026, at the Tillamook County Hospital.

Dick was born on March 7, 1942, and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts, a small coastal city just north of Boston. As a child, he loved boating with his cherished grandfather, affectionately known by the grandchildren as 'Barmpy.' Together, Dick and Barmpy explored the coves and waterways along the North Shore. In adulthood, Dick continued his passion for sailing, owning a sailboat and exploring places like Hood Canal in Puget Sound, the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington, as well as Galveston Bay and Clear Lake in Texas. He also actively participated in the Houston Yacht Club. Another of Dick's athletic pursuits was golf; he was a member of Houston's Bay Oaks Golf and Country Club, where he spent nearly every weekend on the course.

A talented musician, Dick spent many long hours practicing on his full drum kit in his tiny bedroom, inches away from his patient sisters, Karen and Robin. After he moved to the West Coast, he maintained his involvement as an amateur musician with various small bands including his own group, Legal Tender. Dick was passionate about jazz, attending the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival each year with his wife Claudia and following famous percussionists like Buddie Rich and Joe Morello. One could say that his enthusiasm for jazz matched that of Hieronymus Bosch in the Michael Connelly series.

Dick joined the U.S. Army in 1960 right after graduating from high school. He completed his military obligation in Texas and made his way to the West Coast, passing through Eugene and settling into Seattle at the University of Washington. It was here he found his passion for planning and development, skills he would put to extensive use for the remainder of his professional life.

It was also in Seattle that Dick met his first wife, Karen Schmidt, with whom he had two children: Anthony (b. 1969) and Nicholas (b. 1973). Dick's career eventually brought them to Vancouver, Washington. In 1976, after some time working for the city, he became the Port of Vancouver's first official Planner. One of Dick's many ground-breaking accomplishments occurred in 1983. He oversaw an innovative dredging project that helped create a more environmentally stable Vancouver Lake and adjacent recreation area. It was in this role that Dick discovered his other passion: bringing stakeholders together to work towards a common vision and goal.

Dick was adept at facilitating collaboration among government officials, employees, environmental advocates, landowners, and regional businesses to engage in complex discussions, reach compromises, and build consensus. He consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to developing equitable solutions that served not only the interests of all stakeholders but also the long-term well-being of the communities he represented.

Eventually, Dick brought these skills to the Port of Houston in 1988 as their first official Environmental Planner. He loved it there and settled into his newfound Texas Gulf Coast community along with his second wife, Claudia (Schelling) Veach. Many more ambitious projects followed, including spearheading the country's most ambitious project of its kind - the building of the 200-acre marsh from dredge material dug from the Houston Ship Channel in Galveston Bay. Originally called the Demonstration Marsh, it was renamed the Gorini Marsh in 2006.

Dick eventually moved his career into the private sector. Unfortunately, a serious brain injury impacted his abilities. Thanks to his steadfast determination and the loving support from his wife Claudia, Dick regained much of his strength. Since he was no longer able to work at the high standard he had set for himself, the couple decided to retire to Rockaway Beach on the Oregon Coast. Dick spent the next twenty years enjoying travel, golf, music, books, football, and peaceful moments by the ocean. He also cherished his role as a devoted 'Poppie' to his growing family of grandchildren.

Dick approached every endeavor with unmatched dedication and enthusiasm. From his sailing adventures, golf outings, storytelling, and jazz drumming to preparing exceptional meals, excelling at work, or cracking jokes, he was always fully committed. Although later years brought along many complications associated with dementia from his brain injury, Dick maintained that same determined lifeforce and love for his family until he passed.

Dick is survived by his wife, Claudia; son Nick (Sarah); stepdaughters Megan and Erin (David); siblings Karen and Robin (Kim); and several grandchildren. He was preceded in death by first wife Karen S. Schmidt Gorini (d. 2009) and son Anthony P. Gorini (d. 2024).