Richard J. Pomazal
ESCANABA — Richard J. Pomazal, “The Professor,” age 75, who resided at LakeHouse Assisted Living in Escanaba, passed away on D-Day Thursday, June 6, 2024 after a year of treatment for colon cancer. Richard was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, on June 21, 1948 to Jesse and Judith (Pokrzywinski) Pomazal. The family moved to Escanaba in June 1950, when his father took a position in the welder division of the Harnischfeger Corporation. Richard attended school in Escanaba until 1962 when the family moved back to Milwaukee. He graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1966 but remained in contact with Escanaba classmates for many years and was considered a member of the EHS class of 1966. While in high school he joined the wrestling team, a sport that he continued to be involved with through college.
However, boxing was his longtime interest, beginning while in junior high in Escanaba, and continuing during high school years and college. Years later he was a Golden Gloves coach. Upon high school graduation Richard attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1970. He went on to graduate school at the University of Illinois, in Champaign-Urbana, receiving his PhD in 1974.
His first job was at University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Racine where he taught psychology for eight years. He then went on to teach for seven years at the University of Pennsylvania-Bradford and finally completed his teaching career at Wheeling University in Wheeling, West Virginia. While at Wheeling, he entered the Tough Man/ Iron Man competition, winning second place. Also he climbed two record-setting trees.
Returning to Escanaba in 2007 upon retirement from his teaching career, Richard bought a home on the shore of Little Bay De Noc where he lived until this past spring. He belonged to the Escanaba Knights of Columbus, was a member of St. Anne Parish, and served on the marketing planning committee of Holy Name School.
His nieces and nephews remember the fun times they had with “Uncle Rock” – playing board games such as “Bride Bingo,” writing captions on photos, reading his collection of old teen-age advice books such as “Making Teel Parties Click,” Personality Plus,” and “Etiquette for Young Moderns.” He was an avid collector of everything – from Bicentennial memorabilia, stamps, coins, baseball cards, buttons, first day covers of stamps, and later agates, books on all subjects but especially on psychology, magic, marketing, biographies and humor. He entertained his nieces and nephews with magic tricks and frogs in his pond. His sense of humor was culminated when he wrote the pamphlet “How to Know When you are a Yooper.” Academically he wrote many articles on consumer psych for various professional journals.
Richard is survived by his two cats, Suzie and Lucky whom he adopted from the Delta County Animal Shelter and a corn snake named Rocky. He is further survived by his sister Jeanne Rose, Escanaba and brothers, Robert (Sandy) Pomazal of Chillicothe, Illinois, and Charles (Jane) Pomazal of Dixon, Illinois and 10 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 14 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church in Escanaba. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Fran DeGroot officiating. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. He will be buried next to his parents on the Pomazal family lot in Lakeview Cemetery.
The family extends its thanks for the care received by Richard at LakeHouse Assisted Living in Escanaba, from OSF Hospice and from special friend Darr Wellman.
Memorials may be directed to a charity of one’s choice. A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net.
The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Pomazal family.