Richard Seidel Obituary

Richard Seidel was my friend. May the Souls of the Departed through the Mercy of God rest in Peace. What a truly wonderful man.

I never had the privilege of meeting this fine man, Richard Seidel. However, for many years we had exchanges, with him in his capacity as Archivist for the CPS and for me as the Publisher - Editor - Historian and Archivist for my old Chicago alma mater
Tuley High School Alumni Newsletter
Richard graciously accepted items I sent him to be preserved in the school archives. He treasured my Tuley yearbooks and newsletters as much as I did. He was indeed a dedicated historian, one of a kind and will be missed.

DAN MAXIME
Tuley High School
Publisher - Tuley H.S. Alumni Newsletter

My sincere condolences on Richard's passing. I feel privileged to have known him. I became acquainted with Richard a number of years ago when he was the archivist for the CPS. I was pleased that he took possession of a number of Senn High School treasures that might have otherwise gotten misplaced. Later, when my parents died, I contacted Richard regarding some of their possessions. He saw to it that the items got to the right places, among them my father's elementary school diploma (1928) from the no-longer-in-existence Dante School and my mother's two-year journal/scrapbook (1928-30). This book not only held the thoughts and memories of a teen-aged girl but also memorabilia from Hull House where she and my aunts and uncles spent much of their time. They always spoke fondly of the fun they had there and of Jane Addams and the other social workers, so it meant a great deal to me that Richard made sure the book be preserved. Not only did he make sure that items got to the right people or place, he also wrote me personal letters each time he passed on an item for archiving. He examined the item, studied it, and commented on it. I still have those letters and I treasure them and the conversations we had. Again, you have my deepest sympathy.

May God bless, and keep, you brother Richard. Thank you Richard for the bright eyed smiles and for the constantly interesting stories you shared with us. We will always remember sharing Thanksgiving with you, and your mother, Aunt Grace, because you were kind enough to drive east and make us a stop during your travels. Thanks for all of the time you spent tracking, and sharing, information regarding our relatives and family tree members. Thanks for sharing your passion of, and interest in, life and for your kind hearted and christian manner. You showed your greatness in life through your love of your fellow man.
We were, are, truly blessed to have known and spent time with you.
I will be looking to the heavens for a bright, shiny star or two at night and when I see one I will smile and think of you.

Love,
Tripp and Katie Craig, and family

May you draw close to God in prayer and find comfort in reading his Word.

For those who knew and loved Richard, I want to tell you how he and I became friends. I have a local antiques shop, very Chicago-centric, and began to save CPS material for Richard who would come in every few weeks. When he learned my adult daughter had a virulent form of cancer, he cheered me up by telling me how he had survived it. Then both my husband and that daughter died within 8 days of each other, the latter predictable, the former quite a shock. Richard showed up on my doorstep for the Shiva, bearing a gorgeous coffeecake, and stayed quite a while to commiserate.
It wasn't long thereafter that his own cancer reappeared, and this time there wasn't much time for me to console or reassure him. Now I can't see anything relating to the CPS of old without thinking fondly of Richard, and regretting that I was not a better friend. He was a dear person.

For all the happy memories and the knowledge you shared with me. May you rest in peace Richard.
Your friend,
Chris