From Julie Catalano at DVC:
We are sad to report that Richard Shoemaker, retired English instructor passed away on April 8, 2019. Dick began teaching English and ESL for DVC in 1962. He received both his B.A. and M.A. at San Francisco State University. Dick conceived of the idea of the DVC Forum, which he edited and co-edited (with Clark Sturges) for 11 years. He also instituted and taught the journalism class for several years that produced Agapae, DVC’s creative arts magazine. In addition, he served as chair of the English division, was the first community college teacher in the nation to be awarded a semester-long fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dick was an invitee to the very first Summer Institute of the Bay Area Writing Project at the University of California, Berkeley in 1974, a group that has influenced professional development around the country for more than a generation. Dick retired in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Neysa Young, his children, David Shoemaker and Carin Shoemaker, and four grandchildren.
No service or memorial information is available. If you would like to make a donation in Dick’s memory please consider a donation to the DVCRA Scholarship Fund. Contact Janice Bross in the DVC Foundation at extension 22025 or jbross@dvc.edu .
From Laury Fischer via Ellen Kruse
You might have already heard, but Dick Shoemaker passed away yesterday morning, quietly at home. He had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer about 6-8 weeks ago (at least that’s when I found out), and was getting hospice care at home. I heard from Neysa, his wife, that he had seen all of children and grandchildren in the last weeks, and his good friend Don Mahan had come in from Sweden to see him.
Laury had told me about Dick’s illness in March and that he was still reading emails. Dick and I had a lovely email exchange in March and on March 22, only 18 days ago, understatedly wrote, “I’m not doing as well as I hoped to be.” He was remarkably kind-hearted and good spirited even at the end, though I didn’t know at the time how close he was to the end. He had good memories, his sense of humor, and he had his wits about him till the end and people who loved him around him. A good way to go.
I feel bereft and sad, but glad to have known him. A positive presence at DVC and in my life.
I told Laury that I would tell you and that you could pass the news along to those on your list for the lunches. I hope you don’t mind. Sorry if there are duplicate emails to people, but I think people would want to know. He touched so many, even if only with his jovial presence on campus.
Thankful for you too!
Ellen