In Memory of . . . Robert T. Dick (1916-2014)

The Rev. Robert Tyrrell Dick died on May 31, 2014 at the age of 97.  Robert was born on December 17, 1916, to Joseph R. Dick and Alma Tyrrell Dick. He graduated from Tufts University in 1942 with a Bachelor of Art.  He went on to attain a Bachelor of Divinity from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in 1948.

Rev. Dick was ordained to the Unitarian Universalist ministry in 1948 by the Bristol Universalist Church of Bristol, NY. He served as minister to the First Universalist Church of Lyons, OH from 1951 to 1957 and as associate minister to the Universalist Church of West Hartford, CT from 1957 to 1959. He served as minister to the Belpre Circuit of Unitarian Universalist Churches, of Little Hocking, Frost, and Belpre, OH from 1959 to 1964; the Unitarian Universalist Church of Acton, MA, from 1964 to 1967 (now The First Parish Church of Stow and Acton); the Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield, VT and the Universalist Church of Chester Depot, VT (now the First Universalist Parish of Chester) from 1967 to 1976; and The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart, IN from 1976 to 1984. He was voted Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart in 1985, and honorary Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield, VT in 1998.

Committed to both the denomination and social justice, Rev. Dick served as board member of the Universalist Service Committee; Good Offices person to the NH/VT District; and advisor to the Erie Shore Federation of Liberal Religious Youth. He was a lifelong member of the interfaith peace organization, Fellowship of Reconciliation; member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; hospice volunteer; charter member of the liberal advocacy organization, Common Cause; and founder and board member of the Vermont Chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA. In 1981, he was honored with the Adin Ballou Peace Award of the Unitarian Universalist Peace Fellowship.

 

Prior to entering the ministry, Robert served as a conscientious objector in Civilian Public Service from 1942 to 1946. He was enrolled in Tufts School of Religion during the drafting process and waived his theological exemption. His service included forestry work, ward duty in mental hospitals, and serving as a subject in a number of medical experiments.

His family members remember Robert for his dedication to peace, justice and race relations.

He is survived by his sons Nathan Dick and Jeffrey Taft-Dick; daughter, Noreen Redd; and grandchildren, Jonathan, Joya and Philip Taft-Dick. He is predeceased by his spouse, Helen Hersey Dick.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doolittle Home, 16 Bird St., Foxboro, MA 02035-2323, or to UURMaPA Endowment Fund, c/o Paul L’Herrou, Treasurer, UU Retired Ministers and Partners Association, 38 Kimball Avenue, #12, Ipswich, MA 01938-1222

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