DANISCH, Richard Patrick

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona Sunday, March 11, 2012 Richard Patrick Danisch passed away March 4, 2012 with his oldest and dearest friend, JoAnne MacTaggart, at his side. Richard was born August 4, 1953 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Raymond Francis and Patricia Ann Danisch. He grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. As so many of his generation have done, Richard went through many phases—the long-hair 70’s, big-hair 80’s, butch-hair 90’s and gray-hair 2000’s, but at heart he was always a cowboy—independent, hard-working and a lover of good hats and nice boots. Richard moved to California in the early 1970’s with his family. He married JoAnne MacTaggart in 1973. Richard and JoAnne spent many hours studying medicine and he demonstrated an encyclopedic gift for medical terms, concepts, facts and faces that advanced his career choices. He began his career at an aluminum can plant and, following the steps of his father, rose up through the ranks there. Richard loved people and medicine so he began working at SmithKline Beecham and discovered quickly his passion and flair for the laboratory sciences. He was an effective, efficient and successful account manager. Richard also loved growing orchids and spent several years operating a commercial greenhouse and taking care of his animal menagerie in Tracy, CA. It is not surprising, given his nurturing abilities, that he ended up as the Director of Human Resources at Norchem Drug Testing Laboratory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Many friends and colleagues at Norchem owe part of their success to Richard’s careful and professional help in coaching and challenging them to be better workers, team-players and just plain grown-ups. He had high expectations of himself and others to think beyond the present, invest in people and to be honest and fair. Richard will be missed, but his influence and spirit remains part of us all. Richard leaves behind his former wife, JoAnne MacTaggart; his father Raymond; sister Carol Haak (Andrew); brothers Michael Danisch (Sue) and Patrick Danisch; many beloved cousins and a huge laboratory family. He is preceded in death by his mother Patricia and an infant son. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held Monday March 19th from 5-7 PM at Charly’s in downtown Flagstaff. As a Human Resources guy, Richard would not have wanted to disrupt Spring Break plans, so we are waiting until his friends and family can gather together and raise a glass to a life well-lived. The family requests donations to Second Chance Center for Animals and Northland Hospice in lieu of flowers. We especially wish to thank Doctors Nathan Avery, Laurice Coats and Panna Shah for their comfort and guidance during rough times; Edison and Jen of Radiation Oncology for their respectful attention to his needs; Bess and Heather of Northland Hospice for making a tough transition easier and the many friends and prayers that Richard carried in his heart. This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department (928) 556-2279.