Richard Priest

November 24, 1930 - June 28, 2025

It is with great sadness that the family of Richard 'Dick' Priest announces his passing in Los Gatos, California, with his family at his bedside. Born in Los Angeles, he was the first child of Donald and Dorothy Priest. After graduating from South Pasadena High School in 1948, Richard attended Mount San Antonio College attaining a degree in business.

With the Korean War beginning, he voluntarily joined the Navy. Richard was sent to radar and sonar school in San Francisco, and then served two tours on wooden mine sweepers, sweeping along both the North and South Korean coasts. After the war he went back to college, attending Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo. Richard graduated in 1959 with dual majors in Electronical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. While at Cal Poly, he worked his way through school with a wide variety of odd jobs. It was while attending Cal Poly that he met his future wife, Dianne.

Out of college, Richard went to work for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company at Vandenberg Tracking Station during the beginning of the US space programs. There, they worked out of trailers, spending many nights in sleeping bags so they could continuously track satellite orbits. He spent the entirety of his 35+ year career with Lockheed. At his retirement in 1995 he was working on the Milstar Satellite Communication System program. After retirement he had a 'fun' job ushering at the San Jose Arena.

Richard and Dianne moved to the Bay Area in 1963 after the birth of their oldest son, Richard. The following year they moved into their home in Saratoga. Three more sons, Darryl, Donald, and Brian soon followed. As the boys grew, Richard was very active in his sons' various activities starting with Indian Guides. He held many offices in both Little League and AYSO soccer, being president of Little League when the first playing field was developed on Glen Brae Drive. With all his sons highly active with the high school music program, Dick served as president of the Saratoga High School Music Boosters for two years. He was so dedicated to the cause that he went back to his odd job days in college, renewing his bus drivers' license to help alleviate the high school band's transportation expenses. He was also actively involved with the music department's Bingo fundraising, calling games every Tuesday night for several years. Following the tradition of going fishing and camping in the Sierras when the boys were younger, a new tradition began with Richard's 75th birthday - a bi-annual salmon fishing trip to Sitka, Alaska. This year would have been Richard's tenth trip with his 'boys'.

Richard was a member of King David's Masonic Lodge in San Luis Obispo, the San Jose Scottish Rite, the Asiya Shrine, the South Bay Shrine Club, the Camel Herders, the Jesters, and the Shrine Comics. He held several offices in the groups and never tired of wearing his Donald Duck costume to the delight of children along parade routes. He enjoyed his monthly SIRS meetings and his donuts and coffee get-togethers as a member of the American Legion. As a Veteran, Richard was especially proud of his trip to Washington DC in 2018, being accompanied by two of his sons, as part of the Honor Flight program to celebrate his service in the Navy.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dianne; his four sons:  Richard (Margaret), Darryl, Donald, and Brian (Alyssa); as well as three grandsons, three granddaughters and two great-grandsons.

Alameda Family Funeral and Cremation, July 30, 2025