Richard Paul Dzina's Obituary
Richard Paul Dzina of Dallas, TX, passed away on November 21, 2023. His 89 years were characterized by a selfless devotion to his family, a personality percolating with wit and charm, an exuberance best expressed in the company of family and friends, and an unwavering faith.
Dick was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey into an immigrant family on both sides. His father, Paul Dzina, hailed from Berlin; his mother, Mary D’Andrea Dzina, from the village of Morcone outside of Naples, Italy; both arriving to this land of promise as children at the turn of the 20th century.
Dick was an only child yet the youngest of over thirty cousins concentrated in northern New Jersey. His was a depression era childhood but, in the consciousness of a young boy, one dominated by expansive family gatherings, boisterous personalities, and abundant pasta.
His mother was a seamstress, his father a teller at the local electric utility. Immigrant sensibilities of hard work, self-reliance, and the sacrifice of one generation for the next forged the family identity. His parents equipped their son with an education to thrive, sending him to the Pingry School from which he earned a scholarship to Princeton University. Dick was a man of abiding loyalty. His academic affiliations and the friendships they spawned were a source of immense joy.
After Princeton Dick was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served the country that gave his family a fresh start. Upon completion of service Dick commenced his professional journey, first in insurance and then as an institutional bond salesman, which became his life’s avocation. He was an ardent proponent of the merits of free enterprise and found immense fulfillment helping to channel excess savings to productive investment.
Combining a passion for finance and the innate skills of a salesman, Dick had found his trade. But he had not yet found his bride. He was set up on a blind date in New York City with JoAnne White, a country girl whose elegance and beauty matched his panache. Dick and JoAnne found in each other their soul mates through which to embark on life’s journey.
Dick and JoAnne enjoyed 57 years of marriage. After the births of Richard Jr. and Nancy, professional relocations took the young family to St. Louis, MO, where David and Doug joined the flock, and then to Dallas, TX, where Dick and JoAnne made their lives for the next 50 years.
As Dick approached retirement JoAnne lamented, “What will he do? He has no hobbies!” Of course his life’s hobby was his family, which he served faithfully to the very end, and a rich circle of friends, which Dick and JoAnne cultivated at each juncture in life. In relationships Dick derived and spread great joy.
Any life so richly lived also comes with travails, to which Dick’s was no exception. But in accordance with the Lord’s sovereign purposes and immeasurable grace, these events inspired his spiritual growth and became a source of thanksgiving. The intellectual acceptance of Christ as Savior became personal, and a man who prized self-reliance beyond all attributes realized there is only one Hope on which ultimately to rely.
Dick cherished his church family at Highland Park Presbyterian and served it faithfully, including work for the HPPC Foundation, which allowed him to apply his professional expertise to advance Christian charities. Fittingly, his greatest joy in service was as usher, welcoming all to worship with an outstretched hand and a gregarious smile.
Dick faced the end of his earthly days with quiet dignity and an abiding wit, never complaining about declines in health or cognition, and enjoying with visitors a smuggled milkshake and a hearty chuckle.
Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife JoAnne. Dick is survived by son Richard Dzina, Jr. and daughter-in-law Lucy Dzina; daughter Nancy Lance and son-in-law Stephen Lance; son David Dzina and daughter-in-law Robbin Dzina; son Doug Dzina and daughter-in-law Tricia Dzina; and grandchildren Grace Walker (husband Zack), Richard Dzina III, Elizabeth Dzina, Maggie Dzina, Shepherd Dzina, Paige Dzina, Mollie Dzina, and Drew Dzina. His memory will be cherished by his children and their spouses, eight adoring grandchildren, his extended family, and treasured friends.
In lieu of flowers donations in Dick’s memory may be made to the Highland Park Presbyterian Church Foundation at https://www.foundationhppres.org/.
A celebration of Dick’s life will be held on December 1 at 1:00pm CST at Wynne Chapel of Highland Park Presbyterian Church and available for viewing on line at https://hppres.org/memorial-live-stream/.
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