Richard Phillips Dawson

Richard (Ric) Phillips Dawson, 78, peacefully passed away February 25, 2024 at his home in Hamden, Connecticut. Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota on May 29, 1945 he was the third son of the late John and Patricia (Phillips) Dawson.

Ric was born and grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. After graduating high school, he attended Saint John’s University, receiving a degree in Physics. While there, he met Patricia Vit, who was attending the neighboring College of Saint Benedict. He often said he knew from that first meeting that Pat would be his partner for life.

At the height of the Vietnam War, Ric voluntarily enlisted for 3 years to do his part to support his country. He worked as a Computer Specialist in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and in August 1969, married Pat in her hometown of Waconia, Minnesota. The couple lived together in Fort Huachuca, and in 1971 bought a home in Duluth, Minnesota after Ric’s Honorable completion of his enlisted commitment.

While in Duluth, they had two children, Rick and Lynette, and in 1974, with the Duluth winters not being cold enough for them, they moved the family to Juneau, Alaska, where Ric had secured a job programming the Alaska state accounting system. Pat worked as a teacher for the Alaska school system.

Ric’s third child, Robert, was born in Alaska in 1975 and the family was complete. In 1985, the family moved to Seattle, where Ric worked as a Systems Analyst and Database Administrator for a number of companies, including the Port of Tacoma and Overlake Hospital.

Throughout his life, Ric was a man of deep faith in God who cared deeply for others and always strove to bring peace and healing to those around him. He was a founding member of Solid Rock Church in Kent, Washington, and he opened his home to those in need over many years. If there was one thing he wanted everyone to know, it is “God cares about you.”

He loved adventure and was able to complete a road trip to Inuvik, Canada with his brother, John, in 2010. The two of them drove from Seattle all the way to Inuvik in September, braving the Ice Road for themselves.

Richard is survived by his wife Patricia (Vit) Dawson; his daughter, Lynette Jovanovski and her husband Steve of Phoenix, Arizona; sons, Richard A. Dawson and his wife Kristen of Hamden, Connecticut and Robert Dawson and his wife Emily of Williamsburg, New Mexico; siblings, John Dawson of Washington, Kenneth Dawson of Florida, Mary Dawson of California, Thomas Dawson of Minnesota, Anne Hume of Minnesota and Shari Dawson of Minnesota. Richard also leaves 5 grandchildren.

Friends may attend his Funeral Service on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT.

A fund has been set up at https://gofund.me/6ce990cc.