Richard ("Dick") Firsching was born in Pittsburgh on February 27, 1927. He spent his early years in Aspinwall, then moved with his family to Mt. Lebanon, where he raised his own family and lived until shortly before his death on December 16th. Dick was an avid runner in high school, winning a state championship and two second places his senior year. Upon graduation from high school, Dick was drafted into the Army near the end of WWII, serving as an occupational counselor at Ft. Meade. He then attended University of Pittsburgh on an athletic scholarship and ran on the varsity track team every year, including as captain his senior year. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and ultimately formed his own consulting firm, R.C. Firsching Associates, specializing in designing HVAC engineering systems in institutional buildings. Dick sold that business, worked as an independent contractor for several years in his 60's, then formed a new firm, Firsching, Marstiller, Rusbarksy and Wolf Engineering, Inc. which is still in operation.

Dick remained passionate about running until his 60's competing in dozens of 10K races and volunteering at many more, until his knees forced him to take up bicycling which he did with the same passion, traveling across the northeast and Canada, as well as on frequent trips to California. Dick was also a talented photographer and pursued his interest in pistol shooting.

Dick was an enormously devoted father to his three children and grandfather to his four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jane in 2003. He is survived by sons Fred Firsching of Melbourne, FL; and Frank Firsching, his wife and two children in San Diego; and his daughter Ruth Haile, her husband and two children in Manhattan Beach, CA. He is also survived by his sister, Marjorie Shipe of Verona, PA.

Memorial donations may be made to University of Pittsburgh Panther Club.