Richard "Dick" S. Linder, J.D., of Hilton Head, South Carolina, by way of Novato, California, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the unexpected age of 85. He was born in the Bronx, New York, to parents William and Sophie (Palay) Linder, and was the younger brother to the late Sherry (Linder) Hosansky.
Dick walked to school uphill in the snow-both ways-won championship basketball for DeWitt Clinton High School while playing at Madison Square Garden, had a delightfully sarcastic sense of humor, endured too many of life's trials sans complaint, and, especially, served as his children's wise, comedic and caring moral compass. Dad's favorite aphorism: "Illegitimi non carborundum."
Dick is survived by his wife, Arlene (Beckman), with whom he shared 58 years of love, romance and a crazy household; his daughters Michelle Linder and Joelle (Linder) Burnette, his son-in-law, Mark Burnette, and his two adored grandchildren, Jesse and Sophie Burnette, who dearly loved their papa.
Services were held at Home of Peace Cemetery where he was buried next to his and Arlene's eldest daughter, Renee Linder.
This honorably discharged veteran served nine years overseas and domestically as navigator on KC-135s in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command. He finished his military career as a major before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area where he graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Thereafter, as a member of the California Bar Association, he practiced law for 40 years and taught estate planning law at Golden Gate University as an adjunct professor.
In lieu of flowers, please honor his memory by sending donations to woundedwarriorproject.org and Veterans Victory House: 2461 Sidneys Rd., Walterboro, SC 29488.