Richard Allen Hess
April 19, 1946 – March 12, 2022
Richard Allen Hess was born April 19, 1946 in Long Beach, Calif. to Ralph and Martha Hess. With brothers Roger and Thomas, he helped with the family grocery business while growing up and through high school.
In 1967 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and specialized in data processing on the USS Valley Forge during a tour in Vietnam.
After leaving the military, Rich attended California State Long Beach where he earned a bachelor of science degree from the Quantitative Systems Department in 1978. He then worked several years in the university’s bookstore helping create their first computerized sales and record keeping system.
Rich enjoyed cars. Corvettes were his favorite, and he had several over the years.
He also liked sailing, and helped build and sail a catamaran to Hawaii with his friends. His brother, Roger, remembers going to Long Beach harbor with their mother, his wife, and brother, Thomas, to see Rich off on the small boat. He says they were all so sad because none of them thought they would ever see him again.
Rich moved to Yachats in 1990, later working for the C&K Market and in other grocery-related jobs before fully retiring.
Rich enjoyed reading, and was a regular patron of the Yachats library. Rich was well liked and a good friend to many in the community. He is survived by his brother, Roger, and nieces Victoria, Virginia, and Monica.
He will be deeply missed.