Obituary

Richard (Rick) Tingley passed away peacefully at his home in Chandler AZ, just shy of his 79th birthday after a long and courageous battle with a rare Bone Marrow cancer. His wife Mary of 32 years was at his side.

Rick was born in Columbus Ohio on May 23rd 1944 and was raised in McArthur Ohio with his baby sister Diane until the family moved to Phoenix in 1962 to own and operate a photo-finishing business where his father Jack, mother Jeannette and he worked for many years. A life long Sun Devil, Rick attended ASU and was a proud member of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

He entered the then nascent computer industry in the early 1980s learning everything he could about hardware, software and the technicians who built and designed the systems, successfully selling every aspect of the business to the likes of Intel, Motorola and many other companies in the valley.

He had an incredible love for his sons Christopher, and Ryan who passed away at the age of 9 from a congenital heart defect. In fact when Rick and Mary met on the dance floor of the club “Studebakers” in 1989, when the conversation turned to children, Rick’s loving devotion to his sons was all the proof Mary needed of the kind of character that defined Rick. Being a renowned classy dresser, so smart, a wonderful dancer with a witty sense of humor, his beautiful blue eyes sealed the deal!

When they married in 1990, Katy became the daughter he’d always wanted and Christopher the son Mary was so lucky to enter her life. As a blended family they were involved in many activities some of which were famously referred to lovingly ever after as their “Team Dork” experiences. Katy’s coined the Nick name “Dick Chuck” for her step dad which he loved.

Rick was happiest with the sun on his shoulders and his hands in the dirt or working on his many amazing woodworking projects, creating beautiful environments where those he loved would gather around the famous wood fires he built. When he wasn’t puttering in the garden you would find him golfing with Mary whom he patiently taught, swimming, painting or doting on his dogs. He loved Ohio State football, the Green Bay Packers, movies, Groundhog Day, the tick-tick-tick ritual of 60 minutes and music of every genre.

Rick lived a life full of love, beauty and activity and will be forever loved and missed by his beloved sister in law and brother in law Annie and Bob Jorgensen of Santa Cruz CA and their many friends who became Rick and Mary’s, plus best friends Rich and Jewel Knapp of Omaha NE and Roger Martin of Atlanta GA. He was pre-deceased by his father, mother, and son Ryan and in addition to his wife Mary, is lovingly survived by devoted son Christopher and his wife Julie Billiet TIngley whom he adored, and grandson Trent Solar whom he welcomed as his own, of Scottsdale AZ, daughter Kathryn, Katy (Salata) Dejong and son in law Scott, of Oneonta NY, whom he loved and was so proud of, dearest sister Diane Frisch and brother in law Doug, and their dear friends of Tucson AZ and several sweet cousins, nieces nephews in CA, Washington state and Alabama who all loved him so much.

A celebration of Ricks life will be hosted at the private residence of Katy and Scott in October of 2023 and his ashes will be buried along side Mary’s mother and father Jim and Madeline Sommer in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Oneonta, NY