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View a eulogy for Richard Sheriden Sundt, USMA '59, who passed away on September 13, 2017.

Richard Sheriden Sundt

West Point, 1959

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jennifer Sundt on September 30, 2017:

My Dad Was a Really Neat Guy

My father was driven by values of responsibility, justice, honor, courage, compassion, humility, integrity, and selflessness. He embodied these characteristics and it showed in his many roles as a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a soldier, and a patriot.

Dad had a positive outlook on everything in life and was never without a smile. One of my father's West Point classmates who was also in company, B-2, shared with me how upperclassman often viewed the smile on Dad's face as a smirk and his cheery disposition an affront to their authority. Accordingly, the upperclassman swarmed all over Dad thereby relieving the pressure on the classmates in his company. This friend told me, "You always knew it was Dick when the upperclassman shouted 'Wipe that smirk off your face soldier'." Dad was the guy who took the hit for the team and put his Band of Brothers needs ahead of his own.

Dad's entire life he remained deeply committed to the Cadet Code of Conduct that you never lie, cheat, steal or permit others to do so. Parents and teachers tell children the story of George Washington admitting to chopping down the cherry tree because he could not tell a lie. I tell the story of my dad returning insurance money. My junior year in high school I was rear-ended on Memorial Drive by a classmate driving home from school. I drove an old Volvo that if memory serves me had a bluebook value of about $2,200. Although the car wasn't terribly damaged, the appraiser determined it was a total loss and we got a check from the insurance company for the full amount. Dad subsequently took the car in to be repaired and the final bill came to roughly $1,400. Dad insisted on returning the excess money to the insurance company because it wouldn't be honest to keep it. He also telephoned my classmates father to be sure the insurance company made a record so that the classmates insurance wouldn't go up as much. We could use more guys like my dad in this world!

Dad was really proud to be a Sundt and he loved family jokes, even if he was the brunt of the joke. A few years ago, we were at a Sundt Family Reunion in July and my cousin Casey told the waiter it was my dad's 80th birthday so everyone should sing to him. Dad of course was shocked when the whole staff swarmed on our table to make a big fuss over him and Dad insisted it was not his birthday because he was 73 at the time and his birthday is November 1st. Casey relayed to the waiter not to mind Dad because he had a bit of dementia as well. Dad rolled his eyes, and with his perpetual grin said "this is ridiculous".

Sundt Family reunions take place in a different city every other July in even numbered years. The reunion always includes a round of golf known as the Sundt Family Golf Tournament. Dad was an excellent golfer and the guy to beat because whoever won the tournament got their name of the Sundt Family Golf Trophy. Therefore, Dad was the guy to distract whether by buying him a beer at the 9th hole instead of the 19th hole or by deliberately backing up your cart to make the loud reverse sound when he was about to putt. Dad being the cool hand that he is would still manage to block us out and win. But it didn't stop us from constantly trying to trip him up.

Dad was a playful and involved father. I remember when he used to drive my friends home after a sleepover he would make a big production, telling my friends to put their parachutes on and get ready to jump as we approached their house. I would roll my eyes and mumble something about PTSD but my friends thought he was hysterical. Dad also used to come to my track meets and watch me run back in the 1980s when you didn't see a lot of parents at a track meet. He would march into the bleachers like a proud peacock wearing shorts, calf high white socks and black clogs. At the time, I was mortified by his fashion ensemble. But in hindsight it is just another example of how he was a one of a kind independent trailblazer. I can assure you he is proudly parading around in Heaven in those clogs, white socks and shorts.

Many people often use the analogy of whether one perceives a glass as half empty or half full to ascertain whether they have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook on life. My dad was far more than an optimist, he found endless joy in the most modest things. If you were to ask Dad if the glass was half empty or full, he could have two sips of backwash left in his glass and he would tell you that his cup runneth over. So tonight when you have your dinner, I hope you will raise your glasses and toast to the God-fearing family man, selfless soldier and proud patriot whose cup always runneth over.

Jennifer Sundt, daughter

 
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