David Richey Obituary

David was born to Elisabeth and Earl David Richey (who both predeceased him) on November 12, 1946 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he spent his early years. When he was eight years old, his parents decided to move to California, so they packed up and drove across the country in their Ford with David singing all the way that old song “California, Here I Come.”

In 1964, David graduated from Bolsa Grande High School in Westminster and attended Santa Ana Jr. College. Soon after, he and his friend Danny enlisted in the military (Danny in the Green Berets and David in the Air Force), and both eventually went to Vietnam. David served in the Military Police K9 unit initially stationed stateside in San Antonio, Texas and Great Falls, Montana, before being shipped to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. After serving four years in the military, he returned to California and went back to Santa Ana Jr. College, graduating with an AA Degree in 1973, and then attended CSU Long Beach, studying geology.

His hobbies and interests at that time were archeology, a Honda 250cc motorcycle, and later an army jeep he bought and fixed up. David loved to ride in the hills and explore diggings and caves. One day he took his sister and her friend off-roading in the jeep and got stuck in the sand; luckily for them in that era of no cell phones, someone chanced to pass by and towed them out. He also enjoyed woodworking and building computers, starting from bare boards in both activities.

In 1974, David began his career in computers at Collins Radio/Rockwell International as a detail draftsman, tool designer, analyst, and computer programmer. His last position was at Unisys Corporation as a computer technician in Denver, Colorado.

David‘s wide range of pastimes included playing the violin by ear, collecting and playing harmonicas (he always kept one in his glove compartment), fanboying “Dr. Who” since 1963 (he could tell you the names of all the actors who played the sixteen different Doctors in chronological order), hearing jokes and retelling them, reading science fiction books and watching sci-fi movies, especially Svengoolie and “Star Trek” and all of its spinoffs, and listening to classical music, jazz, TV show theme songs, and even elevator music.

At home, he was a true Mr. Fix-It, with a real handyman's diagnostic and trouble-shooting intuition. There were few projects that he wouldn't tackle and even fewer that he couldn't complete.

His ability to roll with the punches was the attribute that enabled him to deal gracefully with all the adversities that life threw at him, right up to the very end. David passed on August 12, 2025, at home (hospice) exactly three months shy of his 79th birthday, from prostate cancer that was first diagnosed in December 2023 but metastasized into small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate, a rare development that occurs in only 3% of the cases.

He is survived by his spouse Carol, sister Collette Gallagher, nephews Anthony Esteron and Robert Esteron (Angela), grandnieces (Kalani and Kaili), grandnephew (Craig), and four great-grandnephews.

A viewing for David was held the morning of August 20, 2025, at Horan and McConaty Funeral Service in Centennial, Colorado, and then he was placed to rest at Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetary in Centennial, Colorado, with family and friends in attendance.

“We never lose those we love, even in death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our lives.”