OBITUARY:

Richard “Dick” Kemp, a local architect who designed the two-story addition for Glenoaks Elementary School and was instrumental in reviewing the designs for the new Glendale Police Department, died Friday of pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

Kemp, a Glendale native, attended Glenoaks Elementary School when it opened in the 1930s and designed the school’s addition in 1967.

He worked mainly on public school architecture projects, wife Carol Kemp said. His name appeared on 354 school projects throughout California, she added.

“He loved his work, and he was doing exactly what he wanted to do and was successful at it,” Carol Kemp said.

His career also played a major role in his service to the community.

Kemp was a member of the Glenoaks Canyon Homeowners Assn. and took part in the review of requests from homeowners who wanted to make additions to their property, Carol Kemp said.

He lived in Glenoaks Canyon all his life. Kemp met Councilman Dave Weaver, also a Glenoaks Canyon native, and the two became friends.

Kemp and Weaver worked on the design of the Glenoaks Canyon marker project, the slab of stone that has the area’s name engraved on it, Carol Kemp said.

“His opinions were well respected in the city,” Weaver said.

After retirement, Kemp volunteered his architectural expertise.

He volunteered his services to the Glendale Police Department and became a design reviewer for the department’s new state-of-the-art headquarters.

Kemp reviewed each stage of the drawings and blueprints for the facility, said Jim Swimford, retired police captain.

“He walked in my office as a citizen volunteer,” Swimford said. “He said something to me like, ‘I’ve lived in Glendale for over 70 years and I want to donate some of my time.’”

As a volunteer, Kemp donated as many as 40 hours a week, Swimford said, adding that he worked on the Police Department’s construction project for about eight years.

Kemp was also admired as a friend and family man.

“If you looked up ‘sweet, sweet man,’ you’d see his picture,” Swimford said. “He had a big smile and calm nature.”

Carol Kemp recalled her husband’s dedication to his family.

“He accepted me with all of my idiosyncrasies, and I can honestly say he never criticized and never complained,” Carol Kemp said.

“He worked very long hours, and in the early years when our children were very young, he would come home for one hour at dinner and then go back to work. He was always ready to talk with me and didn’t just say ‘I’ve gotta go to bed.’”

Kemp was born on Aug. 5, 1925, in Glendale at the former Glendale Sanitarium.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, of 59 years; son, Mark; daughters, Karen, Sharon, Erin and Kim; 17 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A celebration-of-life Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church, 220 E. Elk Ave.