Richard Lawrence Short, 79, of Estero, FL, died peacefully on November 17, 2022, in Bonita Springs, FL. His wife, Pamela J (Perkins) Short, predeceased him in October 2021. Richard was born on June 13, 1943, in Elizabeth City, NC, to Earl W. Geyer and Rubelle L. Harris and was raised in Lake Forest, IL, by his mother and stepdad, Thomas R. Short. He graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1961, served in the US Navy for seven years, and settled in Richmond, RI. Richard earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Rhode Island in 1980. He worked at Electric Boat as an engineer for 25 years before retiring in 2005. Prior to meeting Pam and settling in Estero, FL, Richard spent his retirement years traveling and enjoying his favorite places including Rhode Island's Narragansett Beach, New Hampshire's White Mountains, and the Grand Tetons, where he worked summers at Signal Mountain Lodge.
Richard will be greatly missed by his children from his previous marriage to Eva M. James: Heather L. Short and long-term partner, Angela Paraskevakos, Geoffrey T. Short and wife, Samantha, Amy A. Seekell and husband, Kevin, Jonathan R. Short and long-term partner, Colleen Kenyon, all residents of South County, RI. Richard also leaves his stepsons, Jared Robinson and wife, Sandra, Joshua Robinson and partne,r Sujin Choi, and a stepdaughter, Amanda Spaine. He was predeceased by Pamela's daughter, Meegan Miller. He was the proud grandfather to nineteen grandchildren and was recently excited to learn about his first great-grandson due May 2023.
Richard leaves his beloved brother, Larry T. Short, of NC and his best friend and fellow adventurer, Roger Legg, of OK. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Leesa Roller-Jack, and brother, Thomas Short. His daily presence will be missed by many in the community, especially at his favorite local coffee shop where he was regarded as a "grandfather" to the staff who greeted him each day.
An avid hiker, Richard approached the challenges of life in much the same way he approached the trail. A grateful survivor of an aortic aneurysm, he faced his journey of resulting kidney failure with determination, tenacity, and incredible resilience. Just as he did while hiking, Richard sought to find the beauty in each scene of his life's journey as it unfolded. Whether he was trekking along a level path, climbing up out of the valley, or traversing the ridge between peaks, he ultimately desired to find and capture the simple joys others might overlook or dismiss. A talented writer and photographer, he valued the tranquility of nature and enjoyed spending time in the woods, in the mountains, and at the beach, often capturing beautiful images from his many travels for the enjoyment of those he met along the way.
A private celebration of life will be held by the family at a later time.
