Richard Arnold Mester

Richard Arnold Mester, 84, of Greene Twp., passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023. He was born in Chicago, IL on May 7, 1939, a son of the late William and Eileen Murphy Mester.
Dick Mester was a very active, yet serious student of many things throughout his life. He boxed, played hockey, roller skated and learned to play piano and love classical music as a child. His serious side won out when he went to Notre Dame Preparatory School and studied for the monastic life. After taking simple vows, he became Brother Philip, O.P.
After leaving the monastery, he began a long teaching career first at St. Catherine's College then Penn State University, He had earned a PhD in Philosophy from Penn State, eventually teaching at Penn State Behrend in Erie for over 40 years, retiring as Assistant Professor of Logic and Philosophy. He was greatly admired as a teacher, academic advisor and longtime member of the university faculty senate.
He was more than an academic. He gave the community his voice, singing in both the St. Boniface choir and the Erie Philharmonic Chorus for several years. He gave the community his leadership as a Cub Scout leader and King Lion of the Greene Township Lions Club, and he gave everyone he met a smile with his warm, witty sense of humor.
His family ties from Chicago made him a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and an outspoken railroad supporter. He traveled by train in the US and Europe as well as modeled trains, building and rebuilding his layout dozens of times.
Woven throughout his many experiences was his deep devotion to faith and family. An active member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church community, he was a beloved brother, uncle, father, grandfather and husband. He married Cathy Sargent, a fellow Penn State Behrend faculty member on August 31, 1974.
Dick and Cathy were blessed with two children, daughter Cari Ann (John Russell) and son Clark. Their family was further enriched by grandchildren Eion and Emma Russell. Dick will also be dearly missed by his sisters, Lila Logan and Judith Harrison.
In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his brothers William James Mester and Robert C. Mester and grandson Aidan Rian Russell.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Sunday (TODAY) from 2 to 5 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass at St. Boniface Catholic Church on Monday at 2 p.m. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Lakota Fund, http://www.lakotafunds.org or to the St. Jude Partners in Hope, http://www.stjude.org.