Richard E. "Rik" Musty Ph.D.

Richard "Rik" E. Musty, Ph.D.

Age: 72 • Wacouta Beach, MN

Richard "Rik" Edward Musty, Ph.D., 72, of Wacouta Beach, Minnesota, died Sunday, July 26, 2015 at his home. He was born on August 27, 1942 in Red Wing, Minnesota to Hubert and Janette (Lidberg) Musty. At 17, he scored big when he won the Minnesota State Junior Waterskiing Championship. He graduated from Red Wing High School, received a B.A. from Carleton College in 1964 and went on to receive his Ph.D. from McGill University in Montreal in 1968. Rik had a prestigious 37 year career on the faculty of the University of Vermont, Department of Psychology as professor, researcher, member of numerous boards and committees and, from 1975-87, as chairman of his department. He was a mentor for 31 Master's theses and doctoral dissertations, supported many scholarships, authored over 100 scholarly publications, and was a visiting professor and researcher at the University of Minnesota, University of Arizona, Tucson, and the Escola Paulista de Medicina in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was a founding member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society and received honors for his research on cannabinoids for therapeutic applications.

Rik was active in the community and particularly enjoyed serving on Burlington's City Council from 1983-87, beginning the year after Bernie Sanders became Mayor, He directed project Giant Step, deinstitutionalizing over 30 people with developmental disabilities from Vermont's Brandon Training School. He retired in 2006 and recently moved back to Minnesota. Rik remained busy in retirement continuing research, wintering in Arizona and summering at Wacouta where he always looked forward to boating on "the river" (Mississippi) and Lake Pepin. Rik was fun. He was also an extraordinarily kind and supportive man who left people feeling worthy and respected. His family and friends will miss him terribly.

Rik is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Andrew of Tampa, Florida and James of Burlington, Vermont; brother, Timothy Musty and wife, Marlene of Tuscon, their children, Scott and Jennifer of San Francisco; his first wife and mother to his sons, Sherrill Musty of Burlington, and numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, Jonathan.

A memorial service will be announced in the near future. A private family service was held earlier in Red Wing, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Carlton College, Gift Accounting, One North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057.

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