Richard Hellman II

Richard Hellman II
Dr. Richard Hellmann II, known to friends and family simply as Dick, or Dr. Dick, was a lover of life - an accomplished psychologist in his work life, a passionate world traveler, an avid dancer, and a close friend and confidante to family and friends. Dick died unexpectedly Saturday, December 10, in Stroudsburg, of a heart attack. He was 59. Born in Bronxville, New York, Dick moved with his family to the Stroudsburg area at the age of three, graduating from Stroudsburg High School in 1964. He later graduated from Duke University in 1968, and received his doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the University of Texas in 1979. Dicks recent professional work included psychotherapy and consultation to patients in a variety of elder care settings for the past 15 years, both in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. This included several Long Term Care facilities in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area. In addition, he maintained a small private practice, often providing his services pro bono. Prior to this, Dick worked with children, adolescents, and adults, with a diverse range of problems. Much of his work took place in Key West, Florida, where he was a board member of the Helpline, an organization that provided critical phone support to suicidal callers. His sister, Dr. Margaret Hellmann, states, In whatever he did, Dick retained the big picture perspective, recognizing that we are all in this life for a very short time, and that we better make the most of it. In recent years, Dick returned to his home town, becoming a Deacon in the First Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg, and acting as a resource to the churchs pastoral counseling and ministry. Also, he avidly pursued his love of travel and scuba diving, frequently visiting Latin America and Europe, where he had numerous friends. An accomplished linguist, he shared his love of travel with his sisters and friends, who often accompanied him on his adventures. Survivors: include his two sisters, Gertrude Ginsburg of Baltimore, Md., and Margaret Louise Hellmann, of Salem, Mass., and two nephews, Matthew Ginsburg of Chicago, Ill. and Joshua Ginsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition, there are numerous close friends and family around the United States and in many other parts of the world. Services: A brief graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday Dec. 17, at Laurelwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Stroudsburg, 579 Main St. Contributions: In the spirit in which Dick lived his life, his family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Heifer Project International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance and sustainability (P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203), or to a charity of their choice.