Dr. Richard Hellmann 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, Dec. 10, in Stroudsburg, of a heart attack. He was 59.

Born in Bronxville, N.Y., 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.

Dick's 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. 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 including severe mental illness, developmental disabilities, addictions, as well as those with terminal illness. Much of his work took place in Key West, Fla., where he was a board member of the "Helpline", an organization that provided critical phone support to suicidal callers. He also worked with the local jail, schools systems, churches and taught at community colleges.

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. That attitude made him one of the most non-judgmental persons I knew, and it taught me a lot about my own life and work."

Upon returning to his home town, Dick became a deacon in the First Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg, teaching adult Sunday School, and acting as a resource to the church's pastoral counseling and ministry.

In recent years, 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. As his friends and traveling companions Jeff and Paul explained, "He was a world ambassador. Dick would always laugh in the face of adversity. Regardless of what went wrong, he would make it amusing."

Survivors include his two sisters, Gertrude Ginsburg of Baltimore, Md., and Margaret Louise Hellmann of Salem, Mass. In addition are his brother-in-law, James Ginsburg of Baltimore, Md., and two nephews, Matthew James Ginsburg, of Chicago, Ill. and Joshua Jackson Ginsburg, of Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition, there are numerous close friends around the United States and in many other parts of the world.

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.

In the spirit in which Dick lived his life, his family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Heifer International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance and sustainability, Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR/USA 72203, or to a charity of their choice.