Richard Van Laws was born on April 13, 1944. He passed away on April 8, 2021 from several medical issues. Richard resided in Georgia for forty two years. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Bishop Loughlin and Boys High School. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University where he competed on their track team and represented them in the Pennsylvania Relays. He worked for the New York Times and briefly taught in the New York City Public School System. He laughingly told how after school he went to find his car and discovered some mischievous students pushed his car up the block. Richard eventually moved to Minnesota where he received a Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Mankato State University. He worked in Sales with Ralston Purina and 3M. In 1974 he moved to San Francisco Bay Area where he worked as a Probation Officer and later in real estate.
He found his most fulfilling career was in the financial consulting field. He would provide his clients with very personal, individualized, and professional service. He was sensitive to their family and emotional concerns and would acknowledge them with personal notes and sometimes flowers on special occasions.
He was an avid supporter of alternative medicine dedicated his time to provide family and friends with information on healthy lifestyles, organic food, vitamins and supplements. He would send vitamins and health related literature to family and friends. He found fulfillment in looking after them.
He was predeceased by his parents John and Hazel Laws, and his sister Dorothy Laws Young. He was divorced with no children. He is survived by his brother John Laws and sister Marlo Laws and nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Richard wrote a note that he called the Relationship Quote, from a favored film. “Life is not the number of breaths you take. Life is the number of moments that take your breath away”. He drew a smiley face underneath the note.
Richard’s funeral is being conducted by Georgia Funeral Care and his burial is at Honey Creek Woodlands on April 13, 2021. Richard chose a natural burial which is consistent with his doctrine and outlook on life and nature.
Richard would end his phone conversations with “You know that I love you.”
” A thousand times I’ve missed you. A thousand times I’ve cried. If love alone could have kept you with us, you never would have died.” You were my brother and there was nothing you could do about it.
