Richard Louis Togni

Richard Louis Togni passed away, surrounded by family, on February  16, 2019

following 5 years of gracefully living with Alzheimer's.

 

Dick, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Calgary, Alberta,

Canada on May 22, 1936  to Italian immigrants Augusto and Lena Togni. He

attended St. Mary's Boys High School and then went on to the University of Alberta.

Following 3 years of study he was hired by Triad Oil as an Onsite Well Geologist.

For the next 2 years he lived out in the Alberta oil fields.

 

At age 26 he came, as a transfer student, to the University of Portland where he

pursued a new interest and majored in Social Science.  He received his BA in 1965.

While at UP he met his wife of 52 years, Nathelle (Thelly) Taylor.  They married in

August of 1966. Following 5 years in the Parkrose School District, they moved to

Salem where Dick became the Social Studies Specialist for Salem/Keizer. He

received his Masters of Science in Teaching from Portland State in  1971. Then

followed a 13 year career as Vice Principal at Sprague High School. He proudly

handed each of  his four children their diplomas at their respective graduations.

 

Dick absolutely loved what he did as an educator for 30 years. His work was

validated on the many occasions when former students would thank him for making a

difference in their lives and encouraging them to further study at whatever level.

 

Dick was a people person, with a ready smile, great sense of humor and love of

life (especially of anything Italian or chocolate!)  His retirement years were spent

trying to perfect his tennis game, traveling several times to visit relatives in Italy and

enjoying trips and river cruises to many other European countries. Time spent with

their seven grandsons was a highlight and each boy embraced "Papa" with great

affection.

 

Richard is survived by his wife Nathelle; children, Dana (Steve) Weiner, Mark

(Michelle) Togni, Gregory (Stefanie) Togni, all of Portland and Kristin McIntyre of

Salem; grandsons, Benjamin, Jeremy, Augusto (Gus), Emmett, Oscar, Nathan and

Logan and numerous cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister

Luigia and adopted sister Gloria Togni.

 

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1623 NW 19th

Portland, OR  97209 on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 10 am. Interment will be

at a later date.

 

Please consider a donation in Richard's name to any of the following:

Alzheimer's Association of Oregon  

1650 NW Naito Parkway # 190

Portland, OR  97209

 

The Lake Oswego Adult Community Center Memory Care Program

505 G Ave.  .

Lake Oswego, OR  97034

 

University of Portland Student Need Fund

5000 N. Willamette Blvd.

Portland, OR  97203

 

We would like to thank his weekly caregiver Matt Gannon and the staff at

Marquis Vermont Hills for his end of life care.

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