Dr. RICHARD T. TAKAO MD, COL. (R) US ARMY

1946 - 2021

The beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Dr. Richard Takao of San Antonio, passed away on June 2, 2021. He was a generous man with a gentle spirit who had a gift for listening. He was a friend to many and knew no stranger.

Richard was born on February 15, 1946 in Ontario, Oregon to George and Teru Takao. He was the second of five boys. During his younger years, he was active in Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from the University of Oregon and then became an MD graduating from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland. Following medical school, he did a rotating internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, a pediatric residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas and a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado. He spent twenty years in the US Army with his last assignment being the Chief of Pediatrics at Brooke Army Medical Center. He particularly enjoyed staying in touch and hearing from former residents who he helped train as they progressed with their careers.

After his Army career he joined the pediatric faculty at Central Texas Medical Foundation continuing his passion by teaching residents and family nurse practitioners, as well as seeing patients of his own. In 1993, he joined Spectrum Healthcare Resources where he went on to complete twenty years of work with them and retired in 2014 as a regional medical director. Due to his passion to help others, he took on a part-time job after retirement with the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) doing medical evaluations on young men and women who were entering the armed services. He enjoyed working with this group and offered advice and encouragement to the young recruits.

As a diversion from a busy medical career, he loved tennis and got the whole family involved. He made the All-Army team in 1981 and enjoyed playing in father/son doubles attaining the number one ranking with each of his two sons on different years for the state of Texas. Both sons went on to play collegiate tennis. In 1988, his family was awarded Tennis Family of the Year for the city of San Antonio. In 1991, the family was featured in an article titled, "Model Parents of Tennis Struck Kids," in a national publication of Tennis magazine. In later years, he switched to golf and did manage to get a hole-in-one but was reminded by his wife, Lynda, that his was ten years after she got hers.

Dr. Takao enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, golfing, traveling, and doing yard and garden work. They especially liked to travel to Lake Tahoe, Hawaii and the Pacific NW. He was a member of NE Christian Church where he served as treasurer for over thirty years and was also a trustee for the JA Leppard Foundation and the Annie Mae Leppard Trust.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with cancer but that did not stop him. He made extra efforts to reach out to other cancer patients to offer support, encouragement and prayers. Rich was a strong Christian who was full of love for God. He was a great example to many and never forgot his humble beginnings.

He is survived by his wife Lynda (HS sweetheart) who he was married to for 51 years and his two sons Ryan (Cari) and Mike (Doreen), grandson Nate, brother, Robert (Bobbi), sisters-in-law Dee Ann Takao and Marsha Takao. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Victor, Carl, and Alan.

The family will have the viewing on Friday, June 18, 2021 from 6-8 pm and funeral services on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 2pm at Sunset Memorial at 1701 Austin Highway, 78218.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Richard's memory to NE Christian Church, 2839 Woodbury Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78217 or to the charity of your choice.