Dick Harrington

1942 - 2025

Dick Harrington (aka Grampa Dick) of Crozet, Va. died peacefully on December 9th, 2025, after a struggle with dementia and heart complications. Through it all, his smile and humor continued to outshine the frustrations he experienced with dementia.

Dick is survived by his son, Richard Harrington (Tracy) and their children, Laine, Drew and Riley; his son, Erik Harrington (Stefanie) and their children, McKenna and Blake. He is also survived by his sister, Diane Barnett (Robert) of Nashville, Tenn.; and his first wife of 25 years, Lois Sandy with whom he had two sons.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe Harrington, Jr. and Lenore Harrington; and his youngest sister, Mary Harrington.

Dick will always be remembered as a wonderful, brother, father, and Grampa Dick. A friend and mentor to so many. His spectacles and mustache were his signature. He doted over his grandchildren and attended many sporting and singing events. We will miss his sweet-potato brown sugar dish over the holidays. We are certain he's continuing his "Toe-Tappin" in Heaven just as he lived his life on Earth.

Dick introduced his sons to Lacrosse in 1975 as he played in the "grown-up" league in Charlottesville, Va. as a young father. This had a lasting impression on his sons who played lacrosse through college and then both coached in later years. He was a backpacker, camper, kayaker, downhill telemark skier, roller-blader, and mountain biker. At age 69, he rode bikes with his buddy Brian Delaney on a 335-mile journey from Pittsburgh, Pa. to Georgetown, Washington, D.C. using the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Trails where his family proudly greeted them upon arrival.

Dick was born in Rapid City, S.D., and lived in St. Paul, Minn. after his father died when Dick was six years old. During his formative years, he lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (spending many summers in Denver, Colo.) and graduated Pine Crest High School as valedictorian. He attended Duke University for three years where he played varsity lacrosse and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Miami. Dick obtained his Masters of English at the University of Colorado before obtaining a PhD at the University of Virginia in English Language & Pedagogy.

Dick taught at St. Paul's college in the late 1960's before moving to Charlottesville in 1971 to pursue his PhD at UVA. He was a founding member of the faculty at Piedmont Virginia Community College, where he devoted over four decades to teaching, writing, and mentoring students. Recruited early in PVCC's history, he joined the college when it opened in 1972 and served as Chair of the English Department. He remained a dedicated presence in the classroom until his retirement, ultimately being named Professor Emeritus of English. He was loud and proud of PVCC where he promoted the use of the bumper sticker "The College" to compete with UVA's "The University" push. His devotion to the Virginia Community College system and his advocacy for students planning to transfer to four-year schools helped pave the way for increased acceptance of community college academic preparation by four-year schools.

Dick's influence extended beyond the classroom through his work with the Central Virginia Writing Project. He served as co-director after being recruited by the University of Virginia, working to support teachers, and strengthening writing instruction across the region. Throughout his career, he was actively engaged in professional service at the state and national levels, including leadership and committee work with organizations supporting two-year college English faculty. His teaching methods and instructional approaches were widely respected and shared among colleagues in community college education.

In addition, Dick was a writer of poetry, essays, and fiction, and diligently worked on his memoir in his later years. He lived for many years in Ivy, Va., where he will be remembered as a thoughtful teacher, colleague, and lifelong advocate for the power of education and the written word. He took great pleasure being part of the community of writers that gathered at Clifftop.

Music was a vital part of Dick's life. As a child, he sang in the choir at Minneapolis Central Lutheran Church where his mother worked and sang. In college, he played guitar and sang as the lead act six nights/week at the House of Pegasus in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to help fund school at the University of Miami. A smoker at the time, Dick would place his cigarette in the guitar strings and blow smoke rings to entertain the crowd.

After settling in Albemarle County, Va., Dick honed his passion with Old-Time Music (String Bands) as he played guitar, fiddle and sang in countless Jam Sessions. Not only could he sing and play, but he crafted instruments over the years (hammer dulcimer, lap dulcimer and banjos to name a few). Dick and Lois hosted the "Mulberry Frolic" for years which was an outdoor all afternoon-evening party/Jam session at the family home on Scottsville Rd. about six miles south of Charlottesville, Va. He played in numerous bands including The Crossroads String Band, Uncle Henry's Favorites (as an occasional sub), The Albemarle Ramblers, The Afton Mountain String Band, and Troublesome Creek String Band. He was also featured on Alex Caton's "Swimming to Lindsey" album. Troublesome Creek and Alex Caton's albums are available on Spotify and Apple Music if you wish to hear Dick sing and play. He was part of a close-nit community that gathered annually at Musicalia.

The family is so appreciative of the many friends who visited him as his dementia evolved and especially those that visited him regularly to the end. Dick was always thankful for UVA Health and their medical care teams that provided what he often called the "best healthcare possible." A special thank you to all of the staff and caregivers at English Meadows and who provided such supportive, compassionate care while he resided there since February 2022. Medi Hospice was extremely helpful in his last few months.

A Celebration of Life will occur in 2026.

Donations can be made to the Dick Harrington Award for College Composition at Piedmont Virginia Community College via:

Mail: PVCC Educational Foundation

Dick Harrington Award for College Composition

501 College Drive

Charlottesville, VA 22902

Web: pvcc.edu/give (select academic and leadership awards and reference Harrington in comments).