Obituary of Erwin "Richard" Gehman

Erwin "Richard" Gehman passed away on Monday, August 17, 2015, at the age of 81. A life-long bachelor, our Uncle Richard lived life his way--eccentric, outspoken, sharp as a tack, fiercely independent, bluntly honest, and late in life, a prodigious eater of pastured eggs. Richard grew up in and around Telford, PA, in Mennonite and Amish country just outside Philadelphia. He left behind his traditional upbringing and headed for the fair shores of southern California in the late 1950s, where he remained the rest of his life. He spent most of his working years as a postman walking his route in Venice, CA, surely one of the more colorful postal routes available. Richard’s unassuming career belied the rich intellectual life he led outside of work, which he filled with wine connoisseurship, astrology, reading obscure texts, and a vibrant social life with people of all walks. After retiring from the Postal Service, he retreated to the peaceful surroundings of Port Hueneme. He lost none of his energy and youthful spirit, staying active in astrology and maintaining friendships all over the country. Richard thought the universe was a wonderful place and deeply enjoyed living. Alas, tact was not Richard’s strong suit--he could in one moment be moved to tears over the beauty of a sunset or enraptured by the taste of a fine wine, only to deliver a withering comment about one’s weight in the next. As his health declined, Richard modeled for us how to maintain dignity and personhood, and had the courage not to succumb to every medical procedure offered him. He lived on his terms and chose to die—as much as he could—the same way. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Erwin and Mary Gehman, brother Paul Gehman, sister Mary Lou Groff, and nephew Taric Groff. He is survived by nephew Christian Gehman, nieces Melissa Smith and Catherine Bloomquist, several cousins and many friends.