Col. Richard H. (Dick) Schuler, USA (Ret.)

Col. (USA, ret.) Richard (Dick) H. Schuler completed his baptismal journey and joined his wife, Irma, in the presence of God on March 23, 2014. Born in Wilmington, Delaware on April 8, 1916, he lived fully a long and abundant life of service, leadership and love. He had a powerful intellect, graduating first from the University of Illinois with a BS in chemistry, and thereafter obtaining an MA in nuclear physics from Columbia University and an MA in international affairs from George Washington University, as well as graduating from the Army War College and the Command and General Staff College. Integrity and honor were integrated into his being through his faith, his family, his years as a Boy Scout, and his 30 years of active duty service in the U.S. Army. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, with a lively sense of humor and an abiding concern for others. In 1940, Dick joined the Army. After training at Camp Hulen (where it rained the entire time), he was assigned to the Army’s only Intelligence Battery, at Pearl Harbor. He was there on that fateful day of December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked. He recounted that experience in a memoir he published under the title, “From Rockaway Beach to Pearl Harbor,” written with close friend and writer, Dyne Macha, Ph.D. In 1943, between his assignments in Hawaii and in the European theater of World War II, he married his college sweetheart, Irma. Even though he was late to the wedding (he was playing baseball), they were married 70 years before her death in 2013, in as devoted and magical a marriage as could ever be imagined. In his years of military service, he was engaged in nuclear defense work, first at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, then as a staff assistant to the Committee for Atomic Energy, which was composed of renowned scientists that he came to know. In 1957, he became Chief of the Nuclear Weapons Branch, Atomic Division, of the Army’s Office of the Chief of Research and Development, where he was responsible for the development of nuclear weapons systems and for which he was honored with the Army’s Commendation Medal for displaying “extraordinary professional and scientific ability.” Thereafter, he was the Chief of Tests of the Defense Atomic Support Agency (where he participated in the development of the U.S. position on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty), the Missile and Radar Defense Commander for a guided missile command based in Nebraska (for which he was honored by the Governor as an Admiral of the Nebraska Navy), the Logistics Plans Officer for CINCPAC in Hawaii, and, finally, the Commandant of the Nuclear Weapons School, Sandia Base, NM. For his work in his last assignment, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. After his retirement from the Army in 1971, he worked at the UNM Cancer Center as its manager and for the Office of Emergency Preparedness in Albuquerque. Always athletic, played tennis until his eyesight failed when he was 86. Thirteen times with Irma and until they were well into their 80’s, and occasionally with his daughter Alison Schuler, his son-in-law, Lyman Sandy, and his grandson, Theodore Schuler-Sandy, he hiked the depths of the Grand Canyon. He and Irma also enthusiastically supported numerous civic and arts activities and entertained effortlessly and often in New Mexico and in all the places they lived, benefitting their communities through their generosity and service. He described himself, accurately, as able to “communicate easily and effectively with people of all social and educational backgrounds,” giving him a quality of leadership that led to deep concern for those under him and an equally deep respect for him from his subordinates. His was a life profoundly lived in every respect, his great gifts and his deep faith in God yielding greater gifts to his family, in service to his country, and to his communities and friends. Dick has joined, in the next and beautiful Life and in the presence of God, his wife, Irma, his parents, Ellen and Harry Schuler, and his son-in-law, Lyman Sandy, where, with them, he was surely welcomed. “Well done, good and faithful servant….Enter into the joy of your [Lord].” A service of celebration of Dick’s life will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Menaul NE, Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Dick’s memory be made to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, 601 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123, the Great Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 5841 Office Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 or St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. FRENCH – Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400

Col. Richard H. (Dick) Schuler, USA (Ret.)

April 8, 1916 - March 23, 2014