It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Richard Lawrence (Dick) Schweizer, aged 77, after his long and courageous struggle with Parkinson's disease, through which he was sustained by his family and his faith.

Born on July 19, 1947, in Binghamton, N.Y., Dick was the third son of John B. and Elizabeth (Bennett) Schweizer. He was educated in public schools in suburban Rochester (Brighton) N.Y., graduated from Williamsville High School in suburban Buffalo, N.Y., and received his degree in geology from Lamar University, but considered the State University of New York College at Geneseo his alma mater.

A Vietnam veteran, he served as a military policeman with the U.S. Army's vaunted 82nd Airborne division. After a stint of landscaping, he worked as a geologist for Core Laboratories, a petroleum services company. He and his first wife had a daughter, Jennifer (Ross) Johnson. In 1993 he married Pilar Yanez, with whom he had a son, Richard Luis Schweizer. He and Pilar remained devoted to each other for the next 32 years. His career as a geologist took him to places like Nigeria and he loved to regale his family and friends with stories from his adventures, such as the time his team was taken hostage by rebels and he was left to secure their release with the help of the U.S. Embassy. Dick was a passionate gardener, and in retirement devoted himself to growing and harvesting fresh produce.

He is much mourned by Pilar, Jenny and Richie, by his brothers Allan Schweizer of Barrington, Ill., and Robert. B. Schweizer of Ramsgate, UK, by their wives, Kathy and Rose, by Jenny's husband, Ross, and their children, Cole and Grace. We remember Dick's gentle presence, his kindness and deceptively dry sense of humor.