Richard D. Fee

Richard D. “Dick” Fee (November 8, 1935 – May 10, 2024) of Sun City Center, FL, went to his eternal reward on May 10, 2024, while at his home, surrounded by Ginny, his wife of 64 years, and their two children, Cheryl Zemina and Richard “Rick” Fee. In addition to his wife and children, Dick is survived by his two sisters, Sharlene Copeland and Nancy Theiss (each of whom called him “Rich”), four grandchildren, Bryan, Kristen, Courtney, and Sydney, and five great-grandchildren, Reece, Elena, Sam, Julian, and Colby.   

For those who don’t know Dick, in addition to being a devoted husband and father, he was a life-time member of the Lutheran faith and almost five-decade resident of the Tampa Bay area.  He was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Ridgewood, NJ, just before his senior year in high school.  Dick served in the U.S. Army from 1954 through 1956, and was stationed in West Germany, near the East German border during the tense Cold War years. After receiving an honorable discharge, Dick graduated in 1959 with a degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  While an undergraduate, he received the University’s “Gold Key” for service to the community, drafted Student Government’s Constitution and By-Laws, and was an active member of the Epsilon Nu Delta Fraternity.   

In 1960, he married Ginny (Virginia J. Geyer), whom he lovingly referred to as “his girl” throughout their lives together.  Together they had two children, Cheryl, now Cheryl Zemina, and Richard E. Fee, Esq., both residents of the Tampa area.   

Dick had a 40-year career with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He began in the company’s Home Office in Manhattan and, in 1976, Dick was tasked with helping to open MetLife’s Southeast Office in Tampa, where he managed over 200 employees as the company’s Director of the Underwriting Division.  During his career with MetLife, Dick earned the title of Chartered Life Underwriter from the American College of Life Underwriters, Professional in Human Resources from the National Society for Human Resource Management, and an Associate in Customer Service from the Life Office Management Association. Always a man for others, he focused on employee education throughout his career, including teaching many different classes and mentoring many women for upper management positions. 

Dick was very active in serving his community.  He served multiple terms as Board President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Hillsborough Community College Foundation and was a Board member for more than two decades. After retiring from the HCC Foundation Board, Dick was honored with the Julia B. Williams Service Award, the 4th person to receive that award in the HCC Foundation’s history.  Dick also served on the Board of the Suncoast Chapter of the Red Cross for 12 years, during which he served as Secretary and on many committees.   

Dick also committed his considerable leadership skills to the Boy Scouts at all levels.  While living in New Jersey, he was a Cubmaster for four years.  During his last two years as Cubmaster, his Cub Pack received the President’s Unit Citation for program excellence.  Upon moving to Tampa, Dick served as a committeeman and Chair for Boy Scout Troop 200.  He then served on the Board of the Gulf Ridge Council, where he was elected Administrative VP for four terms and Advancement Chair for three terms.  In 1989, Dick served as the General Chair for the Council’s Annual Scout Show held at MacDill AFB.  Dick rounded out his service to the Boy Scouts by initiating and acting as Chair for the Gulf Ridge Council’s first three annual Eagle Award Dinners.  In recognition of Dick’s “distinguished service to youth” over many years, in 1989 he was awarded the prestigious Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award. 

But wait, there’s more.  Dick was also very active in the life of his Church.  At Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ridgewood, NJ, he served on the Church Council, taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir. Upon moving to Tampa, he was elected Council President and Treasurer of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and again sang in the choir.  After moving to Seminole, Dick served as the Council Secretary and Auditor for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and, of course, sang in the choir.  He then moved to Eastern Hillsborough County and attended Calvary Lutheran Church, where he served on the Church Council and was the Congregation’s first Personnel Shepherd, developing position descriptions and the Congregation’s Personnel Policies and Procedures.  Later Dick served as Calvary’s Chair of the Building Committee, led beloved Bible study classes, and, you guessed it, sang in the choir. 

Dick loved singing in his booming voice.  In addition to church choirs, he was a member of the Orpheus Society in New Jersey, where he enjoyed singing along side of his father-in-law Arno Geyer.  Most of all, Dick loved singing the traditional German drinking song, Ein Prosit, which he did with gusto every Thanksgiving and whenever else the opportunity arose.   

Dick filled some of what was left of his spare time as an active coin collector.  He was a passionate collector of U.S. coins and active in advancing the hobby and teaching it to others.  Dick was a founding member of the Northwest Jersey Coin Club and the club’s first President.  After moving to Tampa, he became a long-time member of the Tampa Bay Coin Club, where he served multiple terms as President, Secretary, Treasurer, and newsletter editor.  He also was elected as the Education Chair of the Clearwater Coin Club, and served multiple terms as President, Secretary and Education Chair, and auctioneer of the Largo Coin Club. To advance the public’s knowledge of numismatics, Dick provided free valuation of individual coin collections and lectured on many different areas of coin, medal and token collecting to many community organizations. 

Despite his extensive and varied public service, Dick’s priority was always his family.  He was never happier than being surrounded by his wife and children, and later his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  The love he showed can never be replaced and the example he provided is a high bar to meet.  Dick will be greatly missed by his family and friends, although their fond memories of him and his considerable legacy will long remain. 

A public memorial service will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1250 College Ave E., Ruskin, FL 33570, on June 21, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. Before he passed, Dick requested that people attending his memorial service wear “happy colors” and not black.  Please do your best to honor his request.  Dick’s family asks that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in his memory to either Calvary Lutheran Church (www.calvaryalive.org) or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org).