Richard E. Pieper Obituary (Rick)
Rick Pieper, 83, long-time resident of Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, died March 23, 2024, at Silverado-Belmont Hills, after a long illness. Rick had a background in Oceanography, and during his life Rick was dedicated to the pursuit of learning more about the ocean and all that lives in it. He taught at USC and other institutions with an ongoing desire to affect the next generation in developing an appreciation of the ocean.
During the last years of his career, Rick was Director of The Southern California Marine Institute in San Pedro. In that capacity, and all through the years, Rick was often aboard research vessels locally and around the world. He wrote many papers about his research, and he always was interested in these topics. His interest in education continued later in his career, and he taught courses in environmental science and biology at local colleges, obtained a degree in psychology and counseled students.
Rick was an avid nature photographer, and he loved swimming, lifeguarding, kayaking, surfing and all water sports. Rick also loved music, and he enjoyed visiting museums, visiting botanical gardens and attending concerts of all kinds. He was a member of the Oceanaires Men’s Chorus with that rich baritone voice.
Rick kept up with current events by reading multiple newspapers every day, and he enjoyed discussing his views with his friends. He was engaging, personable, and he had a great sense of humor along with an infectious laugh. That sense of humor was with him throughout his life, including in his last days.
Rick is survived by his twin brother, Don Pieper, and Don’s wife, Sue Singer, along with two nieces, one nephew, three great-nephews, and one great-niece. According to his wishes, Rick’s ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean. In his memory, a donation to the World Wildlife Fund (worldwildlife.org) will be greatly appreciated. This was one of Rick’s favorite organizations because of its vision: “to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.”
I met Rick in 7th grade mechanical drawing class, and we immediately became best friends. His mother and my mother taught us to play bridge, and we went camping togeher on the Kern River in both 1958 and 1959. We lost track of each other when we both went off to college, he to USSB and I to Antioch College, but eventually reconnected and remained friends from then on. My husband and I would see him whenever we were in L.A., and he came up north to join us on Lopez Island for Christmas several times. He was truly a great friend and a terrific guy, even though he never really decided what he waned to be when he grew up, taking a bar-tending course around the same time he went into psychology. I shall remember him with love always.
It was an honor to have you in our care the last year plus of your life. You were an amazing man with a great sense of humor Our condolences to your family your brother, your niece and all who loved you. You are at peace now sir, out of pain and discomfort. Thank you for all you have done on behalf of nature You will be missed Patricia Player Maxwell and team
Gone? Not really. Not from my heart or my memories. We shall have a paddle-out this summer, probably in Hermosa Beach. The plumeria will be in bloom so we can have lots of leis. But remember the Christmas break when we both returned to UCSB campus, took my board up to the beach at Gaviota and took it out in the rain. First I surfed, and then you. Yes, we built the traditional fire in the trash can. Neither of us had wet suits. They were really expensive then. I was surprised by the thunk on my board, then another one. Then the playful sea lion appeared and laughed You saw it all. Then it was your turn. I watched and as you were at the surf line, we were both thrilled to see a humpback whale breach very close to you. Cool!! And later we shared weekly breakfast at Martha's, and then Slack Key concerts. Aloha 'oe, my friend -
In memory of , Louise Avery lit a candle
Sincere condolences to Don, Sue and families. Rick and i met at UBC Vancouver back in the 1960's when a few of us played bridge after class. His math brain was so effective that he could make a bid, play a card and carry on a conversation while I bumbled along as a novice silently trying to concentrate on what to bid and what card to play next, all the while marveling at The Brainy Guy. I can hear him laughing as I say this! We kept in touch through the years visiting back and forth, meeting my husband and sons, enjoying long phone conversations about many topics, sharing our lives. Several years ago Rick suggested David and I meet him in Anacortes Washington, to go whale watching. Whale watching! When you are an oceanographer, love all things marine and oceanic, what else do you want but to holiday on a whale watching boat? It was a good time. We miss you Rick, the friendship and the phone calls. Rest in peace. David and Louise Canada
Simply put, I owe my career to Rick. He was my post-doc supervisor at USC. I helped draft a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) with Rick and his co-principal investigator, Van Holliday. When the program manager at NSF suggested to Rick that I be cut from the grant to save money, Rick refused. The research that I did on that grant, got me my first faculty position and essentially launched my career. We published several research articles together. We were a good team - I paint with a broad brush; Rick was detail-oriented. I'd write the first draft of the paper and Rick would rip into it, moving whole paragraphs around and making sure that everything I wrote was backed up by evidence. Rick also taught me to be critical of the status quo and to question dogma. "Believe half of what you see and none of what you read," he'd say. I took those lessons forward as a professor mentoring my own students. Rick and I were friends for as long as we knew each other. When my wife Pam was pregnant with our son, we tried to set Rick up with her mid-wife. That didn't go so well. We also asked him to be our son's godfather, a responsibility he took seriously. He participated in our son's bris (the Jewish circumcision ceremony), he attended his college graduation and his wedding. We shared and supported each other through periods of emotional stress and periods of joy. We stayed in touch after his stroke, right up to the end. And I was glad to have the chance to speak with him, and to make him smile a few days before he passed. The words that come to mind when I think of Rick are, charisma, independence, and integrity. People were naturally attracted to him (he was fun to be with). He was an independent thinker. And he never deviated from his principles of honesty and his sense of responsibility. He may be gone, but the long shadow of decency that he cast as a scientist and a friend remains.
Rick and I met at UBC Vancouver back in the 1960s, where a few of us played bridge after class. He was in doctoral studies, I was finishing an undergraduate course. His math brain was so effective in playing bridge, that he could make a bid, play a card and carry on an unrelated conversation while I could only bumble along as a novice silently trying to concentrate on what to bid or what card to play next, all the while marveling at The Brainy Guy. ( and I can hear him laughing heartily to hear me say this!). Years later, still keeping in touch and introducing him to my husband David and sons, he invited us to meet him in Anacortes, Washington to go whale watching. Whale watching! When you are an oceanographer, love all things marine and oceanic, you holiday on a whale watching boat! It was a good time. We miss you Rick: your long phone conversations, your humour and your thoughtful ways with others. Rest in Peace, dear Friend. Louise and David Crossing the Bar Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have cross’d the bar. Lord Tennyson You have Crossed the Bar Fare Well mla
As the private caregiver of Rick in Redondo Beach from Sept 2018 until March 2022, he was like an older brother and sometime a father-figure to me. Every morning and late afternoon we walked along the beach and we took pictures of the skies and the beach surroundings. We also went to concerts, watch stage shows (Shen Yun is the best) and visit parks and botanical gardens. He was so happy playing snowballs when we went to Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead and Wrightwood, We also had a long drive to San Francisco and Half-Moon Bay. During my wedding, Rick was my special guest. Rick, your passing saddened me so much but im relieved to know that you will no longer feel any pains and sufferings. Thank you Rick for everything. You will leave a void in my heart.
We are so sorry to hear of Rick's passing. I have many fond memories of swimming with Rick at El Camino. He was such a kind man who was always ready for fun conversations and lots of laughs. He will be dearly missed.
Rick, I will forever cherish the memories of your smile, laughter, swim days at ECC and the family events. You became family to us. Heaven gained an angel. You are one of the good ones. May your family and friends find comfort in the good memories and love you so generously shared.
I will always miss you, Uncle Rick. I have so many memories...roller skating on the Strand, driving together to Grandma's house, walking many times along the pier in Hermosa Beach, making sure I wouldn't get lost on the way to LA Water and Power, talking on the phone, handing you my kids when you visited them the first time (I was desperate for breaks), finding you a house and setting it up, visiting the beach, the botanical garden, Sony Pictures, the Getty Museum, your friends. I was amazed to see all the data and books in your office that we largely recycled, pictures of boats and expeditions, and the way you charted COVID cases as they were reported in the newspaper. I appreciated talking about psychology and relationships and the questions you asked. You were a great listener because you actually cared about people. I was and still am inspired by your ability to smile, greet people, and remain cheerful in the face of endless adversity. I am grateful you took the opportunity to know me and to be known.
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John Saul posted on April 29, 2024