Richard Wallin Obituary (2021) – Salt Lake City, UT

Sandy, UT—Richard Dean Wallin, born April 18, 1942 to Dean Alvin Wallin and Pauline Gunderson Wallin, passed away peacefully at the age of 79, on June 13, 2021. A lifetime Utahn, Richard “Dick” lived life to the fullest. As a child, Dick began his lifelong adventures in the out-of-doors. It was during high school that he found his forever best friends, through the Alpenbock climbing club. He and his beloved Alpenbock club also helped form the Salt Lake County Jeep Patrol Mountain Rescue Team. Most importantly, he fell in love with his greatest friend, Marilyn Friedland, later marrying each other in 1963. Climbing and skiing the highest peaks of the Wasatch, the Wind Rivers, and the Tetons, Dick sang, yodeled and strummed his guitar and banjo with his college bands, The Rovers and The Villagers, graduating at the University of Utah in Biology/Pre-Med, followed by graduating medical school at the University of Utah in 1968. Serving in the U.S. Navy and completing his medical residency at the Newport, Rhode Island Naval Hospital, 1968-1971, he returned to Utah to create the Emergency Room Department at St. Marks Hospital, where he proudly spent his entire 30 plus years. He loved his co-workers and truly enjoyed helping so many people over the years. Richard expanded his medical career, volunteering his time as a medical consultant and actively participating in rescues for the Salt Lake County Search and Rescue as a sworn in Deputy Sheriff, later receiving The 50 Year Medal of Distinction Award for his bravery, medical expertise and undying volunteerism to the people of Salt Lake County.

Richard lived life to the fullest. Each day was a gift, a chance to make perfect turns in Alta’s deepest powder snow, cast a fly to the largest Green River trout, ride his horse in the Tetons, row and paddle the rapids, climb the granite walls of Little Cottonwood Canyon, tend to his garden, pick the banjo while sipping a glass of wine on the patio with his wife, ride his bike and play with his dogs. Most of all, he always passed along his knowledge to his two boys, Tony and Curt and his grandkids. He was a master of everything he pursued and was a teacher to all who showed interest. In his later years, Richard studied the spirituality of the Native American culture. He spent countless hours tying fly fishing flies, building fly rods and pheasant hunting with his dogs. The natural world was his calling. On any given summer day, he would be seen in the Wasatch photographing and cataloguing wildflowers. Most of us know Dick for his marathon bushwhacking hiking and skiing excursions, always saying, “It’s just around the corner and over the next hill.” Always an adventure.

Now, Richard continues his odyssey, just over the next hill. He left us a bit too early, but he left everyone his undying love for life. His grandson Spencer said it best…” The path we take may seem so short, Grandfather’s spirit now free to soar.”

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his two sons Dr. Anthony R. Wallin (Jennifer) and Curtis J. Wallin (Deana), as well as his four grandchildren Alexandra, Hannah, Lucy and Spencer. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Randy.

The family wishes to express gratitude for the kindness of Sunrise Senior Living and Inspiration Hospice.

A celebration of his life, where all his friends and family can gather for some good storytelling and laughter will be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) or www.Defenders of Wildlife.org.