Richard "Dick" Aaron Life

March 10, 1940 – March 20, 2025

On March 20, 2025, Richard “Dick” Aaron Life, Captain, United States Navy, died peacefully while resting at age 85. He was with family during his final moments. He died naturally from a cardiac arrest. 

Born on March 10, 1940, in Parkersburg, W.Va. to Richard Edward Life and Frances Marie Roush. He grew up in both Athens, Ohio and Parkersburg with his younger brother, Ed, and his sister, Sue.

He was an Eagle Scout who achieved the highest Order of the Arrow. He played football and soccer in high school. He attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in the class of 1962.

He married Sandra, the love of his life, in the academy chapel the day after graduation. 

Richard served three tours in Vietnam aboard the last of the US Navy’s WWII diesel submarines, on amphibious ships, and finally in Saigon as the Navy’s liaison to the South Vietnamese Navy.

He earned his master’s degree in Russian Area Studies from Georgetown University.

During the Cold War, he was the Assistant Naval Attache in the US Embassy, Moscow, USSR, 1974-1976. This was his dream assignment. He spent his career as an Intelligence Officer specializing in human intelligence.

Although Richard wasn’t James Bond, he proudly gave 007 his assignments. He attended the Army War College and taught at each of the military academies in the US and in many other countries. His final assignment was overseeing human intelligence in Europe and the Middle East. 

Richard gave the gift of worldly experiences to his family. While living with them in Washington, DC, the Philippines, San Diego, CA, Moscow, USSR, Norfolk, VA, Carlisle, PA, Colorado Springs (NORAD), and Munich, Germany, he and Sandra taught their children how to travel the world and to appreciate people, their cultures, food, and history.

In retirement, Richard and Sandra lived in Ft Collins and Estes Park, CO. He continued to teach and was the guest speaker at many events. He volunteered at the American Legion and travelled East European countries as an international election monitor. He went on church missions, including assisting surgeons in Haiti.

He enjoyed hiking and biking in Colorado, including hiking 14ers, biking the Courage Classic for Children’s Hospital, and the WEDU in Aspen for children with cancer at Camp Wapiyapi.

Richard and Sandra raised an amazing family. First, they had two biological children and later completed their family by proudly adopting four children from South Korea. In total they had six wonderful children: Rick, Gretchen, Diane, Kevin, Caren, and Angelica.

Their children gave them 10 grandchildren, and since 1992 he’s been known as the world’s best Papa.

Richard is preceded in death by his daughter Gretchen, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, who tragically died in a sail boating accident in 2005. His family takes comfort in knowing they have been reunited. 

His legacy with family and friends will be one of contagious love and joy for all who encountered him. He was quick to laugh, eager to meet new people, passionate about sharing experiences, and the last to leave a social event. His effusive zest for life and his sharing of a smile and a genuine hug will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Family and friends will hold a Celebration of Life, pun intended, on Saturday, April 26, with the service at 11 a.m. and reception following until 1:30 pm, at the American Legion, 850 N. St. Vrain Ave, Estes Park.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to Veterans Counseling Services at American Legion, Post 119, EstesLegion.