Richard Louis Radt

Dick is survived by his wife, Judith, whom he loved and cherished for 58 years, and their son, Michael (Sarah). He is also survived by four beloved sons from his prior marriage, Jonathan, Jeffrey, James (Beth), and Thomas. Additionally, he is survived by seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nieces and grandnephews. Dick loved and admired each one of them for their wide-ranging talents and accomplishments.

Dick grew up on the South Side of Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Geography. He selected this field as the quickest way to graduate after completing his military service in three different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. He claimed that he learned how to march in the Army, shoot in the Marine Corps, and fly in the Navy. In later years, recreational flying became one of his primary interests, in addition to tennis, golf, and upland game hunting.

By virtue of his personality and social skills, Dick discovered at an early age that he had inherited his father’s talent for salesmanship. He was successful at selling everything from shirts and ties at Marshall Fields to adding machines for Remington Rand. He landed at Mead Paper Company, where he rose up the corporate ladder to become national sales manager, before being lured away by another paper company. Dick had found his niche and spent over 50 years in executive positions in the papermaking industry. He retired as Director Emeritus after serving as the CEO, and member of the Boards of Directors of Wausau Paper Mills Company and Mosinee Paper Corporation. Throughout his career, he was an advocate of “management by walking around” and claimed that the people running the paper machines often solved difficult production problems before management did.

Dick was a curious person, who looked at life through a unique lens, resulting in being labeled a visionary in the solutions he found for both business and personal issues. Dick especially enjoyed counseling fledgling entrepreneurs at SCORE and giving advice to his five sons and numerous others, including his caregivers late in life. After surviving a debilitating stroke, Dick spent seven years with limited physical abilities, but his curiosity continued to drive his interest in business and world affairs.

His vast business experience was also called on when he was asked to serve on a variety of boards of directors ranging from an art museum and regional hospital to community banks and nonprofit organizations. As an outside director, Dick took pride in asking the difficult questions which he felt were necessary to meet an organization’s goals and mission statements.

Throughout his life, Dick excelled at telling humorous stories. He had the ability to insert one of his favorite stories into almost any conversation, and, more often than not, it was irrelevant to the topic being discussed. All it took was a trigger word, and he was off and running with an amusing tale. His friends and family continued to laugh long after hearing the third or fourth rendition of the same story. He valued the art of public speaking, especially if it caused people to chuckle.

Dick shared a love of Golden Retrievers with Judy, and for 25 years they made a mission of adopting senior dogs who needed a home in their final years.

The family extends their special gratitude to the healthcare team in the clinic, therapy, and healthcare units of Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge for their professionalism and compassionate care of their husband and father.

Messages of memories or condolences can be sent to the Radt family at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, 250 Pantops Mountain Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the charity of your choice or Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training (GRREAT or SEVA GRREAT) in Virginia.