Richard David Goldstein OBITUARY

Richard David Goldstein OBITUARY

Richard David Goldstein, age 68, a longtime resident of Tustin, California, passed away at home on Sunday, July 13, 2025 after an eight-year struggle with early onset Lewy body dementia.

Richard was born in Oak Park, Illinois on March 11, 1957 to Lillian Goldstein (Celler), and Samuel Goldstein. He spent most of his childhood and young adulthood in his beloved neighborhood of Westchester, Los Angeles. Richard graduated from Westchester High School in 1975. After initially training as a drafter, Richard developed an expertise in computer aided design. His career included engineering services management in the manufacturing industry and technical writing in the engineering software industry.

Art and music were Richard’s lifelong passions. He sang and played guitar in several bands, including Big Food, A Note From Mom, and a childhood music group formed with his father and brother Christopher. He continued composing, writing, playing, and recording music throughout his life and distributed his original albums to friends and acquaintances. Richard was an accomplished painter, in particular of watercolors, producing dreamlike, fantastical images that sometimes hinged on a clever pun or unusual interpretation of a common phrase.

He also loved British cars, science fiction movies, and nature. He always appreciated a beautiful sunset and would ask everyone to drop what they were doing to come outside and see it.

Richard was known as a funny guy. He made friends easily, cared deeply for others, and loved interacting with babies and animals. In the last days of his life, he was still making silly faces to coax a laugh from his family and hospice caregivers. His insight, wit, compassion, and steady presence will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Richard was preceded in death by his brother Christopher in 2021. He is survived by Margaret (Logan), his devoted wife of 37 years, and his children Claire and Emily.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Family Center (https://afscenter.org/).