Danforth Richardson, 95, of Vero Beach, passed away on Dec. 17, 2014, at Indian River Estates in Vero Beach.
He is survived by three daughters: Sandy Kahle (George), Nancy Luther (John) and Susan Hopkins (Carter) all of Vero Beach; he had nine grandchildren: Dolf Kahle (Susan), Lisa Kahle (Tom Tierney), Tammy Kulczycki (Garrett), Jesse Kahle, Kristin Lockwood (Darin), Lindsay Luther (Jackson), Jennifer Langston, Adam Baslow (Molly), Jessica Baslow; and 12 great-grandchildren: Devon and Grace Kahle; Ella and Gavin Tierney; Alice Grace, Emma and Will Lockwood; Kase and Jorie Langston; Evie and Markham Baslow; and Corbin Kulczycki. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, including locally, Nancy Hopwood and Frank Dan Richardson (Vickie) and grand- nephew DK Richardson.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marge in 2009.
Richardson was born April 27, 1919, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He graduated from Pelham High School in Pelham, N.Y. and attended Bucknell College. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He married his college sweetheart, Marjorie Hopwood, and moved with her to Vero Beach after the war in 1946. Richardson began working in his father-in-law’s grove and learned about citrus production from Bob Edsall, a neighbor who also introduced him to the Vero Beach Country Club where he was part of the early membership which helped to maintain the course.
Richardson played tennis in high school and college. He combined his love for both tennis and golf with the many fine friendships that he developed over the years. Always a proponent of the balanced life, he had a regular routine of work, play, and community service. His family often teased him that only a daughter’s wedding or the birth of a grandchild would vary his golf or tennis schedule.
In his business life, Richardson built up a grove business, which had been started by his father-in-law John M. Hopwood, and developed Gracewood Fruit Company with his sons-in-law. He was a member and past chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission and various other citrus and business related boards. In addition to the citrus business, Richardson greatly enjoyed forays into cattle ranching, the restaurant business, real estate and various interesting endeavors with friends.
Always a positive person who truly enjoyed other people and had a profound belief in their goodness and innate potential, Richardson was involved in the early days or founding of several community organizations: The United Way, Rotary Club, Dollars for Scholars, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Indian River State College, the Environmental Learning Center, Riverside Theatre, Indian River Memorial Hospital, and the Gifford Youth Activities Center are but a few.
He was also a part of every building endeavor at the Community Church since 1950, where he taught a high school age Sunday School class for many years.
Richardson always saw education as the key to a positive future and he was a member of the Indian River County School Board in the mid-1960’s, serving as chairman and helping to shepherd a peaceful integration process in the community. With friends he also started the Richardson Scholarship Foundation, which has since become a part of the Scholarship Foundation of Indian River.
Helping to found the Gifford Youth Activities Center brought him great joy in his later years and demonstrated his knack for bringing people together to work toward a common goal. For all his many community and business involvements, Richardson was first and foremost a loving and nurturing husband, father, and friend, always having time for those around him.
He was a kind and gentle man, and his kindness extended far beyond his family-his love and generous spirit were felt throughout the community. His encouragement and positive outlook helped many people. Even when faced with several physical and health challenges in his later years, Richardson maintained his joy of living and his interest in other people.
The Richardson family will be forever grateful to the compassionate and dedicated caregivers who tended to Mr. Richardson in the recent years. A Visitation Celebration will be held at Vero Beach Country Club from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8 and the community is invited. A private family memorial service will be held at the Community Church with interment at Hillcrest Memorial Garden. Strunk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dan’s name to the Gifford Youth Activities Center or the Scholarship Foundation of Indian River (Dollars for Scholars).
