Longtime Former NFHS Administrator Dick Fawcett Passes Away

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, former NFHS Assistant Director Richard Fawcett peacefully passed away in the comfort of his home at the age of 90.

Fawcett taught high school for 20 years in the Minneapolis suburbs and at the University of Minnesota before he moved to Kansas City in 1978. For the next 19 years, he worked at the NFHS, where he coordinated speech, drama, debate, ice hockey, marching band, choir, and orchestra activities for 19,000 high schools in all 50 states. Fawcett was the first NFHS administrator hired specifically for speech and music programs.

Upon retirement from the NFHS in 1997, Fawcett was ordained as a minister and began a new career as a spiritual counselor until 2018.

Fawcett was an avid lover of the outdoors, with a passion for sailing and camping. He spent numerous hours at a cabin on Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota. He also enjoyed backpacking and climbing and led groups in the Wind Rivers Area of the Grand Tetons. Fawcett's love for physical activity extended to skiing, both cross country and down hill.

He co-owned a Cessna 120 and a Cessna 172. He also enjoyed canoeing and white water rafting. In his youth and as an adult, was active in Boy Scouts of America. His commitment to youth development and mentoring led him to serve as a Boy Scout director at Camp Ojuwa and Tenchiefs at Many Point.

Fawcett grew up in the Methodist Church. He was active in Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Methodist Churches for most of his life. Unity Temple on the Plaza had been Fawcett's spiritual home for the past 25 years. He served as Elder for the church, taught adult education classes at Unity Temple for 18 years and continued to teach a class on zoom.

Fawcett's love for knowledge was insatiable. He maintained a personal library of over 4,000 books, a testament to his lifelong commitment to learning and teaching.

Fawcett is survived by his wife of 21 years, Marcene Borthwick; his former wife, Sally Stroh Fawcett; and children; Stohanne Reddekopp (Rick), Richard "Charlie" Fawcett (Laura); Emily (Chris) Sabo; as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.