Richard Joseph Escalante

Funeral mass Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019
Holy Name of Mary
724 E. Bonita
San Dimas

Graveside service with military honors immediately following mass
Forest Lawn Covina Hills
21300 Via Verde Drive
Covina

Celebration of Life Reception (dinner & entertainment) 3:30 p.m. -9:00 (or later)
Via Verde Country Club
1400 Avenida Entrada
San Dimas

Richard ("Dick") Joseph Escalante, 82, a long-time resident of the San Gabriel Valley (El Monte,
Glendora, & San Dimas/Via Verde), passed away peacefully at home due to complications from Multiple
Myeloma, surrounded by his loving family on the morning of December 29, 2018.
Richard was born in Denver, Colorado on June 21, 1936. Shortly thereafter, Fidel and Emma Escalante
(Nee Romero) adopted him as their oldest son. The family moved to and around Los Angeles (Echo Park
& Boyle Heights) with a stop in Stockton during WWII and ultimately settled in the Medina Court area of
El Monte near their parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe. He and his sisters, Pat and Lillian, together with
brothers Tony and Frank grew up together in the homes that Richard built with his father and mother.
He finished elementary school at Nativity Parish and served as an altar boy under the tutelage of Fr.
John Coffield, who as Pastor also served as the neighborhood scoutmaster, CYO and boxing coach and
mentor. From the time he was a boy, Richard worked tirelessly; shining shoes for and selling newspapers
to local businessmen, unloading supplies for Mr. Snyder at the very first In-N-Out Burger and working in
the grocery warehouse for the Von der Ahe family at Vons. Richard started high school at the San
Fernando Seminary and later transferred to El Monte High School where he enjoyed participating in
athletics, playing football and baseball. He graduated in 1954. Thereafter he attended Mount San
Antonio College until he received his draft notice in 1955 from the Army, however, he decided instead to
enlist in the U.S. Air Force. He served his country with pride, starting with boot camp in Pleasanton, CA.,
then tech school in Mississippi, was later stationed in Long Island, New York, endured arctic survival
school in Iceland, and was finally stationed overseas in Newfoundland for 18 months. He spent his final
military service stationed at March Air Force Base in Riverside to be closer to his family, especially his
mother and attend college through the G.I. bill. Richard received an honorable discharge from the U.S.
Air Force in 1958 as an Airman First Class, having served as a flight mechanic during the Korean War. He
received his aircrew member wings, National Defense medal and a good conduct medal.
While on leave in his hometown, Richard stopped by the local bowling alley with a friend. There he met
the love of his life, Patricia Winters, a hot-blooded Irish-German lassie recently transplanted from New
York. They married after a brief courtship and quickly started a family with the addition of their son
Michael Joseph. Daughter Susan Ann followed shortly thereafter and, in 1971, the family became
complete with the addition of their 'River Baby', Stacey Patricia. The family first settled in Temple City,
ultimately setting down roots in Glendora, 'The Pride of the Foothills', where Richard joined the
Glendora Fire Department in 1961.
Richard worked several side jobs to pay the bills while attending night school at Citrus College,
ultimately earning his AA degree. To further advance his firefighting career, Richard took classes at Cal
Poly Pomona, Cal State LA and later USC (perish the thought), finishing just a few credits shy of earning
his bachelor's degree. After serving three years with the Glendora Fire Department, Richard transferred
to the City of Covina Fire Department, where he advanced his rank to Engineer, then Captain, eventually
ascending to Battalion Chief, from which he retired in 1992 after nearly 32 years of public service.
Richard initiated a variety of cutting-edge programs during his tenure, including the Bombero Program
as part of Covina's Sister-City designation with Jalapa, Veracruz in Mexico and creation of the initial
Paramedic Program within the City of Covina. He was extremely humbled at having received the support
of his fellow firefighters who elected him President of the local firefighter union and he cherished the
ability to serve for the benefit of others. His fellow firemen paid him the ultimate honor when Andy
Vanderlaan and Ken Cate quickly arranged an escort by LA County Battalion Chief Tony Buzzerio and the
fire crew at Station 244 in South El Monte from City of Hope Hospital for his final journey home. There,

he was greeted by LA County Station 141 in Via Verde and a phalanx of family, friends, firemen and
neighbors as he began his hospice care.
Richard was a faithful Catholic parishioner at St. Louise de Marillac in Covina and more recently at Holy
Name of Mary in San Dimas. Richard and Patricia sacrificed many personal wants to send their children
to parochial school and, later, Damien and St. Lucy's High Schools. They continued to put their children
first by each taking on second jobs to fund college for all three kids. God, 'La Familia', Friends & Country
have been key tenets in a life well-lived. Approaching life with a 'servant's heart', Richard participated
extensively in his church, Little League, and many Veterans' affairs and other community organizations.
Nothing stirred Richard's heartstrings more than standing at attention and saluting the American Flag
during the singing of the National Anthem and an Air Force flyover – especially if they were associated
with a Damien, UCLA, Notre Dame or LA Rams football game. Early dates with Patricia included games
in the Coliseum for the then recently transplanted Rams and Dodgers.
Richard is survived by his devoted wife, Patricia to whom he was faithfully married for almost 59 years.
His words of wisdom, many newspaper and magazine clippings, laughter, smile, quick wit and self-
deprecating style of humor will be missed by his three children, Michael, Susan and Stacey, his daughter-
in-law Monica, and his 5 grandchildren Amanda, Cameron, Rori, Will and Gabriella. He is survived by his
sister Pat McLain and her husband Mike, as well as his brother Frank Escalante. His surviving in-laws
include his 'brother' Tom Winters and his wife, Jeri, and his 'sister' Colleen Ocello and her husband, Jim.
He leaves behind an abundance of nieces and nephews. His legacy will last forever through his family
and everyone else he touched. Vaya con Dios Richard Escalante, you will be missed, but never
forgotten.

Richard's Celebration of Life will begin with a formal Mass at Holy Name of Mary Church on Saturday,
January 19 at noon. The Mass will be celebrated at the direction of Fr. Bill Moore and Fr. Rich Danyluk.
Interment will follow immediately at Forest Lawn-Covina Hills. Reception and personal remembrances
will be held thereafter at Via Verde Country Club until they kick us out!
Donations in lieu of flowers should be made in Richard's name to the City of Hope – Hematology
Department, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or any Veteran's organization of your choosing.