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Richard J. “Dick” Vicario, 87, died Saturday, March 5, 2016, at Logan Acres Senior Community.
He was born in Bellefontaine on Jan. 30, 1929, a son of the late Charles and Mary Cira Vicario. He also was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Vicario, in 1989; three brothers, Salvatore “Sam,” Charles William “Bill” and Jacob A. “Jake” Vicario; and a sister, Angelina “Ange” Rose Vicario.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jeanne Henry Vicario; two daughters, Diana (Mike) Hawkey and Vicki (Charley) Marlow, both of Bellefontaine; four grandchildren, Chris (Carol) Marlow of Bellefontaine, Scott (Darcy) Marlow of Huntsville, Jamie (Sarah) Marlow of Dayton and Casey (Ryan) King of Bellefontaine; three great-grandchildren, Taylor Manahan, Hannah Marlow and Zander Little; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dick first worked as a Bellefontaine police officer in 1953 before continuing his father’s business, Vicario Shoe Repair, which later became Vicario’s Shoe Center. In 1968, he and two partners purchased the Holland Theatre. He founded Vicario’s Pizza in 1978 and Vicario Telecommunications in 1985.
He served as a Bellefontaine city councilman 1964 to 1968, and then was mayor of Bellefontaine for 14 years, 1983 to 1996, and served as the council president. He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bellefontaine and member of St. Mary of the Woods, Russells Point.
His extensive community involvement included serving as a chairman for the Heart Association, Red Cross Disaster, Downtown Betterment Association, Jimmy Kinchen Fund, and former president of the United Way. He was also a former director for the Chamber of Commerce, Police Pension Board, Logan County Health Board, American Red Cross, Huntington National Bank director, and helped lead the committee to establish the new municipal airport. He was elected president of the Logan County Mayor’s Association three terms and served on the Bellefontaine and Republican Executive Planning Commissions.
Dick was a member of the Elks Lodge and was the 1996 Elk’s Club Distinguished Citizen; Kiwanis Club and its Citizen of the Year in 1996; and the Eagles; Knights of Columbus Council; Logan County History Center; and honorary member of the VFW and AMVETS. He was the 1989 recipient of the U.S. Congress Outstanding Service award; 1989 Special Olympics Service award; and in 1995, the Chamber of Commerce Leadership and Lifetime Honorary Membership award. He received an honorary bachelor’s degree from Urbana University in 1995.
Father Kenneth Baker celebrates a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Bellefontaine. Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine. Burial is in Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bellefontaine Police Department K-9 Unit, 135 N. Detroit St., Bellefontaine, OH 43311.
Condolences may be made at www.edsfh.com.