Richard Thomas Schaden, was born March 20, 1943 to Adolph and Estelle Schaden in Oak Park, IL. The family moved to northern Indiana when Richard was eight, and he lived there until he graduated high school. He attended Indiana University where he studied political science and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army in 1968. He married Jo Snyder that summer and they began his military career. Richard later earned a Masters Degree in Latin American Studies at Indiana University.
Richard served two tours in Panama with the US Southern Command, a year in Vietnam, and four years at the Pentagon as a military intelligence officer and was on loan to the U S State Department at the end of his military career. He and Jo have one daughter, Erin Schaden.
Richard retired in 1988 as a Lieutenant Colonel and began his civilian career as a consultant. After retirement from the Army, Richard and Jo moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where they lived for almost 30 years. In 2016, they moved to California to be near their daughter and their grandchildren, Logan and Grace Rendulic.
Richard is survived by his wife, daughter, grandchildren, his sister Donna Cramer of Beverly, New Jersey, his sister Linda Howard of Tallahassee, Florida, and his brother, Ron Schaden, of Rensselaer, Indiana. He was pre-deceased by his parents and his sister, Leann Argenal.
Richard was outgoing, fun-loving, and usually had a big smile for everyone. He would have celebrated 23 years in recovery on January 1, 2026. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
Donations in his name may be made to Santa Barbara Newhouse, www.sbnewhouse.org.