In Memoriam 1992-1997/Richard Theodore Suhm
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RICHARD THEODORE SUHM
Knight of Bahá’u’iléh 1926—1996
GRIEVED LOSS KNIGHT BAHA‘U’LLAH RICHARD T. SUHM. HIS LONG YEARS ENERGETIC, DEDICATED EFFORTS PROMOTE HOLY CAUSE DISTINGUISHED BY HIS PIONEER SERVICES MOROCCO IN RESPONSE URGENT DEMANDS TEN YEAR CRUSADE. EXTEND LOVING SYMPATHY MEMBERS HIS FAMILY. FERVENTLY PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM.
Universal House ofijustice September 10, 1996
Rehard “Dick” Suhm was five years 0le07 when his parents accepted Bahá’u’iléh and enrolled in the Faith. The oldest of four brothers, Dick grew up in a very active and dedicated Bahá’í family, one of the first in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His dad, Herbert, was chairman of the Milwaukee Spiritual Assembly off and on for thirty—five years. Herbert’s brother,
107 He was born on April 17, 19261
Clarence, was elected chairman on many alternate years, and his mother, Dessel, served the community in many valued capacities.
As a youth, Dick was active in social activities at Bay View High School. He wrote for the school paper and was a national table—tennis champion, an avid tennis player, and a member of the swim team. After graduating from high school in 1944, he attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison for a year until he was inducted into the US Army. He served as a medical technician in Manila, the Philippines, and in Pusan, Korea.
Upon his discharge in 1946, he reentered the University of Wisconsin in Madison, graduating in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree in economics and a major in finance. Shortly after his graduation he obtained a job with the Standard Register Company as a systems analyst—sales trainee. It was with that company that he felt he had a chance to build a career.
Ric/Jrlrd 771mdore Su/Jm
[Page 352]
352 THE Bahá’í WORLD
Bahá’u’lláh evidently had other plans for this active, enthusiastic Bahá’í. Dick attended the National Convention in Wilmette in 1951 and met his future wife, Mary Louise Kelsey. Their wedding was held on October 19, 1952, at the Evergreen Cabin in West Englewood, New Jersey.
A few months after the couple set up an apartment in Milwaukee, they learned that Whitefish Bay needed two believers in order to form an Assembly. They moved to that community, where they held weekly firesides and counted seven enrollments the first year.
It was at the Intercontinental Conference held in Chicago in 1953 that the Ten Year Crusade was announced. Although they were expecting their first child, they started corresponding with the National Spiritual Assembly, which put them in touch with the newly appointed Africa Committee. Not much was known about many of the countries in Africa that the beloved Guardian had indicated were to receive pioneers, and Dick and Mary found it difficult to get information.
Their son Gregg was born on December 2, 1953, the day before Mary’s parents, Curtis and Harriet Kelseyfog left to go on pilgrimage. When the news was conveyed to them by phone, the Kelseys asked Dick and Mary Lou if they would like to send a message to Shoghi Effendi. The answer was, “Yes, please ask him Where he would like us to pioneer.”
A month later the couple received a postcard with the news that Shoghi Effendi had said that Dick and Mary Lou could go to Algeria, Tunisia, or to Tangier, Morocco. Tangier was closer, and as it was an inter 303 See “In Memoriam,” 777:: Babri'z’ World, vol. XV, PP- 468—73.
2”” that did not require visas,
national zone, they chose it as their post.
They made many attempts to find passage but to no avail. Mary Lou’s brother finally went to the docks in New York and purchased the last two bunks on D deck on the last Italian ship going to Gibraltar before the tourist season. The couple and three—month-old Gregg arrived in Tangier shortly before Riḍván 1954, just in time to form the first Spiritual Assembly with seven other pioneers.
During his pioneer days in Tangier, Dick worked for an American investment bank in securities and transactions. In 1956 Mary Lou became ill with polio. The beloved Guardian advised them to return to the United States for medical treatment. By that time their daughter, Wendy, was six months old. Settling in Hackensack, New Jersey, they were able to help form an Assembly. Later they moved to the town of Ramapo, New York, where, after many years of weekly firesides, an Assembly was also formed.
\Vhile his children were growing up, Dick was an active teacher and speaker. He served as secretary on the District Teaching Committee and wrote its newsletters. Sometimes he was elected delegate to the National Convention.
His work as an industrial engineer took him out of the country or to different parts of the United States. He was always willing to serve whatever Bahá’í community he visited. About this time Dick and Mary separated, and in 1974 Dick left Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City, where he headed the Industrial Engineering Department,
209 Morocco was partitioned into French and Spanish protectorates in 1912. In 192.3 Tangier became an international zone with an administration shared between France, Spain, Britain, and later Italy. Morocco gained independence in 1956, and Tangier was reintegrated.
[Page 353]
IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 353
to accept a job at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. A few years later he moved to Dallas. Shortly after arriving there Dick sought out an adult singles group at a United Methodist Church where he made many contacts, and over the years he gave talks and classes on a variety of subjects. It was there he met the owner ofa newly created magazine. He was fascinated by her project and asked the owner repeatedly if he could join her in the business. She was unable to put him on the payroll, but he went to work anyway. For several years he wrote monthly articles on holistic medicine and nutrition, and as society editor he had many opportunities to attend social events, assignments that he loved.
Dick is fondly remembered by the Dallas Bahá’ís as being one of the most active members of the Bahá’í’ Office of Public Information, which he served from 1978 to 1986. His specialty was media relationsthe writing of press releases to newspapers and television and their follow—up.
From 1992 to 1996 Dick served on the Board ofDirectors of the Dallas Chapter of the United Nations Association. Although no other religion was given a chair, the Association created a Bahá’í chair especially for him. He served as chairman of its Media Relations Committee. In almost every meeting of the Board, he found an opportunity to talk about some facet of the Bahá’í Faith.
Each year that he lived in Dallas, Dick took part in the Senior Olympics, placing first or second in the events he entered. He competed in tennis and table—tennis tournaments throughout Texas, and he took part in the Texas Senior Games. It was fitting that Dick’s last moments on earth were spent doing what he loved. He died suddenly on the tennis court, while playing his usual Saturday morning game with a friend on September 7, 1996.
On May 8th, a few weeks after his birthday, Dick had written to his family, “at the age of 70 I am still in pursuit ofIife, the soul, love, and the meaning of a full and happy life. In my mind I don’t feel older. I might even be a bit more experienced and wiser. It’s just that my body does not work as well as it did when I was younger.”
He is survived by his former wife, Mary Louise; sons, Gregg and Grant; daughter, Wendy Kvalheim; and six grandchildren. His brothers, Douglas, Lawrence, and David were among the two hundred people who attended the funeral.
Mary Louixe Subm