Richard Schultz, former town official

Richard C. Schultz, a former Ridgefield town official who had lived here more than 25 years, died on May 31, 2005, in Palm Desert, Calif., after a battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Mr. Schultz was born on Dec. 6, 1937, and grew up in Norwalk. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1958 after only three years and embarked on a career in corporate finance. He worked as a senior accountant at Price Waterhouse for six years and then spent a 22-year career at Perkin-Elmer, serving as controller and eventually corporate comptroller.

He was CFO and vice president of Hosokawa Micron before retiring from the corporate world to own and operate an EconoLodge with his wife for nine years in Buellton, Calif.

An active member of the community, Mr. Schultz served on the Boards of Finance and Education, belonged to church groups at St. Mary’s and coached soccer as well as Townies basketball.

In Buellton, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of People Helping People, Head Start and the Community Action Commission.

He and his wife, Gwyn, were married in 1962 and raised a son and daughter on Silver Spring Road, and later on Old Wagon Road.

“They enjoyed 43 years of family, travel, business and great laughs together,” his family said.

Besides his wife, Mr. Schultz is survived by two children, Rick Schultz and his wife, Lara, and Debra Schultz and her husband, Gary, all of northern California, grandsons Jake and Riley, and a sister Nancy Lato.

“Dick possessed a sharp mind, a loving heart, a strong faith and an eternally positive attitude,” his family said. “He was a devoted father and husband and a savvy businessman who enjoyed sport, travel and competition of any kind. He made friends wherever he went. He faced his illness with great strength and faith.”

Services were in California.

Donations in his memory may be made to the ALS Association, www.alsa.org.