Richard Arthur Hultquist died peacefully on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 surrounded by his loving family after a fierce battle with cancer. He was a warrior, fighting until the end. Richard never gave up hope, remaining the eternal optimist all knew him to be.
Richard was born on March 19, 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah as the middle child of Leonard and Lorraine Hultquist. He attended South High School and the University of Utah where he was affiliated with Sigma Nu fraternity.
It is worth noting that on August 24, 1964 he saw fit to marry Carolyn Ross – the best decision he ever made and for which his children – Richard “Rich” (Jill), Sarah (Hunter) and Ashley (Kevin) – are eternally grateful. His grandchildren, Jack, Maggie and Grayson count themselves fortunate for that decision as well. Richard and Carolyn moved to Seattle, eventually settling on Mercer Island where they raised their family.
Growing up Richard was an avid outdoorsman participating in Scouting and loving nothing more than a bluebird day at Alta skiing the powder down Alf’s High Rustler. He maintained these passions throughout his life; He was a longtime Scoutmaster for Troop 624 where his son, Rich, became an Eagle Scout, he never lost his love of skiing and could be found many a weekend with his beloved Carolyn, kids and grandkids at Dabob Bay waterskiing, crabbing or just watching the sunset listening to Brubeck’s ‘Take 5’.
But nothing that might be written or said could ever rightly convey the complexity, the intricacies and expanse, of Richard’s life. To reduce the magic of his company to the customary list of accomplishments seems so much less than a tribute, and unfair. Such a list is always greater than some and less than others.
Of Richard you might say that he graduated from college, was a Scoutmaster for a time or a sometime ski champion, that he coached all of his kid’s sports teams or became a successful businessman. You might start like that… But such lists are truly only a footnote to someone’s life.
The measure of a life’s success lies, rather, in the indelible imprint it makes upon the minds and memories of others. By this standard, more than any other, Richard was quite a phenomenon. And so, the following perspective is offered instead of the usual list of bygone achievements: ‘Blessed is the man…To whom his work is a pleasure, By whom his friends are encouraged, With whom all are comfortable, In whom a clear conscience abides, and Through whom his children see God.’ Richard’s success, the legacy he leaves behind, is not what he did, but the force of his example.
While we are broken hearted, he leaves us with this legacy along with his love of family, his quiet strength, optimistic spirit and contagious smile – may we continue to practice the best of his life’s example.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to one of the following:
• Huntsman Cancer institute: https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/
• Stowers Institute: https://www.stowers.org/
• Cancer Pathways: https://cancerpathways.org/donate/
