Richard A. Mitchell Esq., 79, of Garnet Valley, PA, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020. “Mitch” was born on April 26, 1940 in Fair Lawn, NJ where he attended Fair Lawn High School in 1958. He then attended Gettysburg College, graduating in 1962.
After college, Mitch served five years in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman. He was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ. During his military career, Mitch served a 13-month tour in Vietnam with the 716th Military Police Battalion, where he was the Provost Marshall at Bien Hoa. Additionally, he led a detail in charge of protecting James Meredith at the University of Mississippi during the peak of the Civil Rights movement.
Mitch maintained his connection with the men of the 716th MP Battalion throughout his life. As Master of Ceremonies for the reunited unit, he entertained and laughed along with his fellow soldiers. He and Joyce created lifelong friendships with many of the soldiers who served in Vietnam with the 716th. Because of his kinship with his fellow MPs, Mitch was able to feel and relive the camaraderie that only those who have served overseas can feel.
Mitch’s career as an attorney began at Villanova Law School. Graduating in 1970, Mitch quickly became an active member of the law community in Media. Over nearly 50 years, Mitch earned the respect and admiration of fellow lawyers and judges. He was certainly “the man about town” in the county seat.
Never missing an opportunity to contribute, Mitch served on countless committees and in professional organizations and thus earned many recognitions. His top professional honors include the Lawyer's Club Man of the Year in 1986, the Elizabeth C. Price Award in 2004, and the Frank T. Hazel Hall of Fame Award in 2013. Highlighted among his service contributions are his 1996 presidency of the Delaware County Bar Association and as chairman of the Delaware County Bench-Bar from 2006 to 2011. Over his 50-year career, he missed only one conference and that was because he had achieved life’s highest honor – he was being recognized by his grandson at his school.
Mitch’s service to his profession was evenly matched with his service to his community. Mitch was a man of God who sang in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church choir for over 40 years. He read scripture for the congregation and could often be found helping out with bulletins and even taking down trees on the church grounds! So many laughs and memories were created through his friends at Holy Trinity. It was at church where his children truly learned the importance of community service through their father.
Mitch also served his community through his participation with his childrens’ teams and events. He coached his son in soccer and baseball, and was a dedicated father to the YMCA’s father/son and father/daughter outdoor camping organizations. If he wasn’t coaching, Mitch and his wife Joyce were in the stands cheering their children on during games, plays, concerts, and as they got older, through graduations and weddings.
As his children grew more independent, Mitch became an avid golfer. Most Saturdays, from spring to fall, Mitch was the first on the tee, so that he could play golf before returning home to his family. Mitch played in as many tournaments as he could and had two holes-in-one to his credit. He loved to teach golf as well, many times coaching his son, son-in-law, and others. He also loved the nightlife and gatherings that the club provided. He rarely ate a hot meal at Springhaven because he was too busy socializing and introducing his family to his friends.
As any golfer knows, the only form of entertainment that could come close to playing golf is watching golf. He loved to see Tiger and Phil Mickelson play and was particularly fond of Payne Stewart. Mitch was an avid Philadelphia sports fan. When the Phillies won the World Series in 1980, he took his kids outside to bang pots and pans in the driveway. When they won in 2008, he celebrated heartily. When the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018, a weight was lifted. That said, he never seemed to understand why the coaches and players didn’t listen to him when he yelled at the television from his chair.
Mitch’s dedication to his family is perhaps most difficult to capture in words. Every aspect of his life was influenced and decided upon for the best interest of his family. He taught his kids to ride their bikes, and to drive; to sing and to do chores; to laugh and to be kind.
Mitch’s true calling came when his first grandchild was born in 2006. Everything Mitch had done in his life became whole through his new role as Pop-pa. He was never happier than when he was spending time with his grandkids. Like his own children years earlier, Pop-pa attended concerts and events both locally and through the magic of his cell phone. He was born for his role as a grandparent.
In the simplest of terms, Mitch added laughter and warmth to people's lives. He was a storyteller, one who animated his tales with larger-than-life facial expressions. He loved to tell a good joke and was known to play practical jokes on friends and family. He was a loving friend to so many. And he was a loving husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and Pop-Pa to those he held dearest.
While Mitch’s passing has left a hole in many hearts, those hearts will soon be filled by the memories he left behind. Nature abhors a vacuum and memories of Mitch’s friendship, kindness, and love will soon fill that void.
Mitch is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce, his son Richard Jr. and daughter-in-law, Maggie, of Coatesville, PA, and their three children, Evie, Leo, and Kieran and his daughter Jennifer Riesenberger and son-in-law, Mitchell, of Hopkinton, MA, and their three children, Drew, Alex, and Kate as well as his sister Betty Damore of Boothwyn, PA, brother Jack Mitchell of Yucca Valley, CA, and many relatives.
A celebration of Mitch’s life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 927 South Providence Rd. Wallingford, PA 19086.
After college, Mitch served five years in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman. He was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ. During his military career, Mitch served a 13-month tour in Vietnam with the 716th Military Police Battalion, where he was the Provost Marshall at Bien Hoa. Additionally, he led a detail in charge of protecting James Meredith at the University of Mississippi during the peak of the Civil Rights movement.
Mitch maintained his connection with the men of the 716th MP Battalion throughout his life. As Master of Ceremonies for the reunited unit, he entertained and laughed along with his fellow soldiers. He and Joyce created lifelong friendships with many of the soldiers who served in Vietnam with the 716th. Because of his kinship with his fellow MPs, Mitch was able to feel and relive the camaraderie that only those who have served overseas can feel.
Mitch’s career as an attorney began at Villanova Law School. Graduating in 1970, Mitch quickly became an active member of the law community in Media. Over nearly 50 years, Mitch earned the respect and admiration of fellow lawyers and judges. He was certainly “the man about town” in the county seat.
Never missing an opportunity to contribute, Mitch served on countless committees and in professional organizations and thus earned many recognitions. His top professional honors include the Lawyer's Club Man of the Year in 1986, the Elizabeth C. Price Award in 2004, and the Frank T. Hazel Hall of Fame Award in 2013. Highlighted among his service contributions are his 1996 presidency of the Delaware County Bar Association and as chairman of the Delaware County Bench-Bar from 2006 to 2011. Over his 50-year career, he missed only one conference and that was because he had achieved life’s highest honor – he was being recognized by his grandson at his school.
Mitch’s service to his profession was evenly matched with his service to his community. Mitch was a man of God who sang in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church choir for over 40 years. He read scripture for the congregation and could often be found helping out with bulletins and even taking down trees on the church grounds! So many laughs and memories were created through his friends at Holy Trinity. It was at church where his children truly learned the importance of community service through their father.
Mitch also served his community through his participation with his childrens’ teams and events. He coached his son in soccer and baseball, and was a dedicated father to the YMCA’s father/son and father/daughter outdoor camping organizations. If he wasn’t coaching, Mitch and his wife Joyce were in the stands cheering their children on during games, plays, concerts, and as they got older, through graduations and weddings.
As his children grew more independent, Mitch became an avid golfer. Most Saturdays, from spring to fall, Mitch was the first on the tee, so that he could play golf before returning home to his family. Mitch played in as many tournaments as he could and had two holes-in-one to his credit. He loved to teach golf as well, many times coaching his son, son-in-law, and others. He also loved the nightlife and gatherings that the club provided. He rarely ate a hot meal at Springhaven because he was too busy socializing and introducing his family to his friends.
As any golfer knows, the only form of entertainment that could come close to playing golf is watching golf. He loved to see Tiger and Phil Mickelson play and was particularly fond of Payne Stewart. Mitch was an avid Philadelphia sports fan. When the Phillies won the World Series in 1980, he took his kids outside to bang pots and pans in the driveway. When they won in 2008, he celebrated heartily. When the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018, a weight was lifted. That said, he never seemed to understand why the coaches and players didn’t listen to him when he yelled at the television from his chair.
Mitch’s dedication to his family is perhaps most difficult to capture in words. Every aspect of his life was influenced and decided upon for the best interest of his family. He taught his kids to ride their bikes, and to drive; to sing and to do chores; to laugh and to be kind.
Mitch’s true calling came when his first grandchild was born in 2006. Everything Mitch had done in his life became whole through his new role as Pop-pa. He was never happier than when he was spending time with his grandkids. Like his own children years earlier, Pop-pa attended concerts and events both locally and through the magic of his cell phone. He was born for his role as a grandparent.
In the simplest of terms, Mitch added laughter and warmth to people's lives. He was a storyteller, one who animated his tales with larger-than-life facial expressions. He loved to tell a good joke and was known to play practical jokes on friends and family. He was a loving friend to so many. And he was a loving husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and Pop-Pa to those he held dearest.
While Mitch’s passing has left a hole in many hearts, those hearts will soon be filled by the memories he left behind. Nature abhors a vacuum and memories of Mitch’s friendship, kindness, and love will soon fill that void.
Mitch is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce, his son Richard Jr. and daughter-in-law, Maggie, of Coatesville, PA, and their three children, Evie, Leo, and Kieran and his daughter Jennifer Riesenberger and son-in-law, Mitchell, of Hopkinton, MA, and their three children, Drew, Alex, and Kate as well as his sister Betty Damore of Boothwyn, PA, brother Jack Mitchell of Yucca Valley, CA, and many relatives.
A celebration of Mitch’s life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 927 South Providence Rd. Wallingford, PA 19086.