Richard "Dick" M Herman

Richard (Dick) Herman, 95, moved on from this life on July 2, 2025. Born May 18, 1930, he lived his first 9 years of life in the Elyria area, followed by several years living with Grandparents on their Oberlin dairy farm and on his Uncle John’s in-law’s farm. He attended Oberlin schools until 1947 when – after 11th grade, he escaped to enlist in the U.S. Navy.

After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, IL Dick did a short stint at GL Electronics School, transferred temporarily to New London, CT and from there was assigned to Sub Squadron 4 in Key West, FL. He attended the Navy’s Norfolk, VA Radio School, and as a Morse Code Operator, served onboard the Submarine Tender Howard W. Gilmore berthed at the Key West Naval Base. Dick returned to Ohio after receiving his Honorable Discharge in 1950.

Dick worked at the BFGoodrich Avon Lake Technical center from August 1956 to June 1992, retiring after 36 years. Dick had high praise for the BFGoodrich Company and always said he had the best job in the Tech Center. Seven patents assigned to the BFGoodrich Company bear his name.

Dick with his son Bob formed Pro-Track Corporation in 1986, manufacturing accessories for radio-controlled racecars, and he retired for a second time in 1996.

Harmonica and guitar expanded his love of music from the 40’s and 50’s, and his toolbox was never far from his reach, fixing things broken for family, friends and untold others.

Dick leaves behind his sweetheart, and wife of 71 years, Sylvia (nee Fritz), their three children, Patricia Fuehrer (George), Andrew and Robert, his sister Sister RuthAnn (SND Nanette), three granddaughters, Jennifer Turner (Corey Beckham), Alexandra Turner (Patrick Duke) and Victoria Liotta (John), four great-grandsons, Giovanni, Ryan, Jackson and Max, and a great-granddaughter Raeghan, with another great-granddaughter on the way.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother Susan in 1940, his father Michael in 1973, brother Joe in 2005, sister Sally in 2017, sister Marge in 2019, son James in 2020, and granddaughter Kathryn (Jim’s Daughter) in 2022.

There will be a funeral Mass at 10:30 on July 14, 2025, at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in South Amherst, OH. The family will greet visitors at the church that day starting at 9:30 and at the luncheon immediately after the Mass.

Interment will be at a future date at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman Ohio.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Veterans Visiting Veterans program at UH Elyria Medical Center. Those donations in his name can be made at www.uhgiving.org/elyria.

Dick’s final wish was that we bow our heads and pray for America.

Reichlin Roberts Bollinger is honored to be assisting the family at this time.