Village Chronicles

In 1959, he married Elaine Elmer, and they had six children. They later divorced. In 1986, he married his current wife, Sherry Stratton.

Dick’s Bell Labs career continued in Illinois when the Naperville location opened. He was an early and relentless advocate for affirmative action in the workplace, and assisted in numerous awareness-training workshops. He retired in 1992 as supervisor of the art group and TV studio.

For 10 years, Dick was a board member, trainer, and training developer for the Naperville United Way, where he was instrumental in establishing needs-based allocation of funding.

Dick was also a fine artist and musician. He painted many watercolors, as well as artwork in acrylics and oils. He played piano for weddings and other events in his band The Suede for many years, and was also a songwriter and guitar player.

Dick was a lover of the natural world, and his choices in his home, travel, recreation, and charitable giving reflected that. No one knew a more avid recycler.

He was preceded in death by his father, Upton Thomas, Jr., his son Gordon (Don), and his daughter Lisa Gottlob. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons Christopher (Becky) and Joel (Julienne), daughters Jennifer Thomas-Johnson (Robert) and Katherine Bell (Scott), his mother, Joan Thomas, his sister, Jane Warren, eight grandchildren, one nephew, and one niece.

A memorial was held on Sunday, Oct. 16 at Naper Settlement at the Meeting House.

Contributions in Dick’s memory may be made to The Conservation Foundation, www.theconservationfoundation.org.