1955
Richard
2015
Richard Hawse, Sr.
December 31, 1955 — June 11, 2015
Richard Hawse was a renaissance man, a jack-of-all-trades, a visionary, and a great friend. Richard was born in Baltimore, to a family at the time with one older brother, two younger sisters plus one younger brother yet to come. He spent many formative summer years in Cumberland, MD, with his uncle Jim, aunt Pat, and extended family watching after him. He fondly remembered these years.
Growing up, Richard spent time with his father crabbing, developing his love for boats and the water. He would often take apart lawn mowers and other equipment, just to put it back together. A natural inquisition and incredibly sharp mind meant school was no challenge for him. Even after being offered a job working for DOD straight from high school he turned it down, deciding instead to quit school to start making his “fortune” by doing manual labor. He built buildings in both DC and Maryland, ones that stand tall today, and kept building his entire life. After a short stint as a tractor trailer mechanic he began working on cars. For 20 years he was an auto mechanic, working mostly for Wooten Motor Cars, moving from a master technician to shop foreman to service manager. He handled people, cars, customers, and vendors with grace and was always available to advise when people needed help.
While working on cars was satisfying, he knew his body couldn’t do it forever. He decided to take that DOD job offer, a few decades later, after going back to school full time while still a working full time job. The strongest man in the world never stopped and from 1996 – 2002 he went from a GED to his master’s degree. Richard dedicated 16 years to working as a defense contractor and what he loved the most was building complex systems in his mind and then watching them come to fruition through hard work.
Richard built three homes for his family, refabbed several fast cars including an AC Cobra from a kit, constructed a boat, installed an in ground pool, and completed his most crowning accomplishment – the instillation of Anne Arundel Counties’ first wind turbine. He assisted friends and family in various building projects as often as he was able to over the years. He was the person you would ask if you had a question about almost anything and he had a way of explaining it to you that made you understand without feeling foolish. He never stopped working; even in the last days of his life he was building a complicated model ship.
Richard loved many things, his family especially, animals also, fast cars, and the waters he grew up on. We’ll remember Richard for his kindness, dedication, strength, strong will, brilliant mind, driving passions, and the love we shared together.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the family owned and operated MCCULLY-POLYNIAK FUNERAL HOME, P.A. 3204 Mountain Road, PASADENA on Sunday 5 to 8 PM. Further viewing will be held on Monday from 10 AM to 11 AM at which time funeral services will be held. Cremation services to follow. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Habitat for Humanity at https://connect.habitatchesapeake.org/donate-now.
Growing up, Richard spent time with his father crabbing, developing his love for boats and the water. He would often take apart lawn mowers and other equipment, just to put it back together. A natural inquisition and incredibly sharp mind meant school was no challenge for him. Even after being offered a job working for DOD straight from high school he turned it down, deciding instead to quit school to start making his “fortune” by doing manual labor. He built buildings in both DC and Maryland, ones that stand tall today, and kept building his entire life. After a short stint as a tractor trailer mechanic he began working on cars. For 20 years he was an auto mechanic, working mostly for Wooten Motor Cars, moving from a master technician to shop foreman to service manager. He handled people, cars, customers, and vendors with grace and was always available to advise when people needed help.
While working on cars was satisfying, he knew his body couldn’t do it forever. He decided to take that DOD job offer, a few decades later, after going back to school full time while still a working full time job. The strongest man in the world never stopped and from 1996 – 2002 he went from a GED to his master’s degree. Richard dedicated 16 years to working as a defense contractor and what he loved the most was building complex systems in his mind and then watching them come to fruition through hard work.
Richard built three homes for his family, refabbed several fast cars including an AC Cobra from a kit, constructed a boat, installed an in ground pool, and completed his most crowning accomplishment – the instillation of Anne Arundel Counties’ first wind turbine. He assisted friends and family in various building projects as often as he was able to over the years. He was the person you would ask if you had a question about almost anything and he had a way of explaining it to you that made you understand without feeling foolish. He never stopped working; even in the last days of his life he was building a complicated model ship.
Richard loved many things, his family especially, animals also, fast cars, and the waters he grew up on. We’ll remember Richard for his kindness, dedication, strength, strong will, brilliant mind, driving passions, and the love we shared together.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the family owned and operated MCCULLY-POLYNIAK FUNERAL HOME, P.A. 3204 Mountain Road, PASADENA on Sunday 5 to 8 PM. Further viewing will be held on Monday from 10 AM to 11 AM at which time funeral services will be held. Cremation services to follow. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Habitat for Humanity at https://connect.habitatchesapeake.org/donate-now.
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