Richard 'Dick' Strait

Richard ""Dick"" Strait Dick, 83, died on July 21, 2012. He retired in 1991 as Associate Regional Director of Planning and Resource Preservation in the Rocky Mt. Regional Office after 36 years with the National Park Service. His career started as a student in Grand Canyon National Park in 1956 and in 1958 he took a permanent landscape architect position with Western Office of Design and Construction. In 1963 he became the resident Landscape Architect at Rocky Mountain National Park and in 1965 took the same position in the Midwest Regional Office in Omaha. After 5 years, he was named the Colorado State Coordinator and moved back to Colorado. When the Rocky Mountain Region came to Denver, he was named Associate Regional Director of Co-op Activities. Dick had many interests, especially working with wood. He made many beautiful things, including Kachina dolls, an interest he picked up in Grand Canyon. Dick also loved football; he played semi-pro ball while in the Army at Fort Lee and enjoyed the Broncos and Notre Dame. He was proud of his Irish heritage and cherished the family trip to Ireland. He and Shirley had many trips to Mexico over a span of 25 years, including the last on in January. His latest interest was in model airplanes of World War II. He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Shirley, and five children; Mickey (Tony) Burns, Susan (Mike) Andrews, Kelly (George) Knapp, Kerry (Paul) Rodrigue and Sean Strait, as well as nine grandchildren: Megan, Stuart, and Erin Andrews – Kenny, David, Karin Knapp and Brittany, Kirk, and Josie Rodrigue, as well as a great grandchild, Roan Andrews-Berntson, and his sister Kathy Presutto. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Park Conservation Association, 777 6th Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001-3723, NPCA.org or to the Denver Dumb Friends League, 2080 South Quebec Street, Denver, Colorado 80231 or other environmental organization of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at 5920 West Quarles Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80127 or randstrait@q.com. Funeral Mass will be Friday, August 3, 2012, 10:30am at Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 6673 West Chatfield Avenue, Littleton, Colorado. Please share your memories of Dick and condolences with his family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" link.