Richard H. Vail

Richard Hughes Vail, 88, of Niles, Illinois, formerly of Sauganash, Chicago, Illinois passed away
peacefully on March 22, 2023. Beloved husband of 50 years to the late Mary Patricia née Little.
Loving father to Patricia (Raul) Heredia, Richard (Margie), Deirdre (Lawrence) Konieczny and
the late Christopher. Cherished grandfather to Christopher, Elizabeth, Michael, Madeline (Paul),
Kathryn, Ashley (Andrew) and Carolyn; dear great-grandfather to George, Christopher, Mateo,
Vivian, Jacob, Matthew, Christopher, Abigail, Hannah, Elijah, and Alyssa. Dear brother to James
(the late Mary), Michelle (Dennis) Norton, the late Jacqueline (George) Henderson, the late
Michael Vail. Wonderful uncle to many nieces and nephews and friend to many.
Richard was born in Chicago in 1935 to the late Marjorie (née Hughes) and James Vail. A
lifelong educator, Richard obtained his Master's degree at the Chicago Teachers College, and
shortly thereafter began a lifelong career of teaching those with intellectual and developmental
disabilities within both the Chicago Public Schools system and the Illinois Department of
Rehabilitation Services. A fierce advocate for his students, Richard carried this crusade from a
level of education to that of action, and helped bring on the national right of all children with
disabilities to receive an appropriate education in 1975. Throughout his lengthy career as an
educator, Richard taught and transitioned children with disabilities toward successful
post-school living, provided practicum (student teaching) for local universities, and taught
Americanization and Naturalization courses at City Colleges of Chicago. Richard retired after 37
years of teaching with the Chicago Public School system and the Illinois Department of
Rehabilitation Services.
Richard was an avid biblical coin collector, specializing in ancient Greek, Roman, and Oriental
coins, many of which were from the cabinets of his father and grandfather. He authored two
books of this type: the first on the Didache, which the Lord entrusted to His
Apostles, and the second on a Treasury of Greek and Roman coins for the reconstruction of the
history of Judaism and Christianity under Persian, Greek, and Roman rule.
In his retirement, he and his beloved wife Mary Pat traveled frequently, taking many trips with
their grandchildren (favorites were to Disney World!) as well as visiting more than 25 countries.
They loved going on cruises. He has gone on to his final adventure to meet the Lord and we will
miss him terribly.
Visitation will be Monday, March 27, 2023 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home 6150 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL. Chapel Prayers will be Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 9:15 a.m. form Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home and proceeding to St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church 8149 W. Golf Rd, Niles, IL for Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment Maryhill Cemetery, Niles, IL. For funeral info call 773-736-3833.