Richard "Dick" Hassel

Richard Allen Hassel passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 12, 2014 with his family by his side. Richard (Dick) Allen Hassel (aka Mr. Mare Island) was born in Omaha, Neb., on June 7, 1949 to Virgil and Dorothy Hassel. Richard was the son of Omaha’s assistant fire marshall, Virgil H. Hassel, who died in 1968. Richard, a 40-year resident of Vallejo, was as devoted to the city of Vallejo and its residents almost as much as he was to his family and many friends. He was an instrumental influence in trying to save and transition Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which earned him the title of “Mr. Mare Island." During this period, Richard served as chairman of the save our shipyard (SOS) campaign and as a member of the Mare Island Futures Committee, wrote a weekly news column, and hosted a weekly radio show “Mare Island Beat” on KNBA and KXBT radio while also heading the Mare Island food aid program for the Midwest flood victims in Quincy, Illinois. Richard received numerous awards and recognitions for both his professional and community volunteer work. Among his many achievements, Richard was the recipient of President George Bush’s prestigious Point of Light Award for his community service in establishing a child care center on Mare Island. “Mr. Mare Island” was also recognized in 1992 as volunteer of the year by the San Francisco YMCA for his work as chairman of the board of directors of the North Bay YMCA and as a member of the San Francisco YMCA. Richard worked many years with the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce, also serving a term as chair. Richard served on many boards, including the Solano County Educational Alliance and the Solano Economic Development Corporation. Since the early 1990s, he served as a Vallejo Rotarian. Richard attended the University of Nebraska before serving his country during the Vietnam war as a machinist mate in the Navy. After serving in the Navy commissioned to the USS Seawolf nuclear submarine, Richard was the head of the radiological support division at Mare Island Naval Shipyard from 1983 through 1996. After the closure of the Mare Island Shipyard, Richard worked on its economic re-vitalization and re-use. As the vice president of administration at Touro University, he continued to work on Mare Island and retired last year as an employee of Blu-Homes, Inc. also located on Mare Island. Richard’s passing is a tremendous loss to not only his family and friends, but to the community. Beyond his selfless and committed community work, he was a “news junkie” and loved spending time with his family, friends and many pets. He also enjoyed watching football, especially the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Oakland Raiders, searching and re-purposing old items, and spending time relaxing in the country. He is survived by his wife and companion of 21 years, Wendy Therrian-Hassel; daughters, Elizabeth Hassel and Jessica (Ron) Duce; grandchildren, Michael, Mackenzie and Meredith Duce; sisters, Janice (Paul) Cronin and Julie Ann (Craig) Sorensen; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Dorothy Hassel. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 at Twin Chapels Mortuary, 1100 Tennessee Street, Vallejo, Calif., and a celebration of life reception will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Mare Island Naval Museum at 1100 Railroad on Mare Island. The family requests no flowers, but donations may be made in the name of “Mr. Mare Island” to the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation at 328 Seawind Drive, Vallejo, Calif., 94590. Arrangements entrusted to the direction and care of Twin Chapels Mortuary, Vallejo, Calif., 552-6696, www.TwinChapelsMortuary.com.

Richard "Dick" Hassel

June 7, 1949 - September 12, 2014