Richard Averill Caldwell

Dr. Richard ‘Dick’ Averill Caldwell, a pioneering chemistry professor and former dean at The University of Texas at Dallas, died at 85 in Lavon, Texas, on December 2, 2025.

Dick was born on September 28, 1940, in Huntington, West Virginia. While an only child, Dick grew up with 13 aunts and uncles (plus their spouses and children) and enjoyed reunions and time spent with the large family.

After high school, at age 16, Dick was admitted to MIT and studied chemistry, earning a Bachelor of Science. He then studied physical organic chemistry at UC Berkeley earning a doctorate degree. Dick started his career as the Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Cornell University in 1965 in Ithaca, New York.

Dick moved to Plano, Texas with his family in 1971 when he went to the University of Texas at Dallas as a chemistry professor. At the time, UTD was early in its transformation from a private research scientific research institute to a full-fledged university. Dick brought his knowledge of universities and his ability to work with differing viewpoints to the academic environment and was instrumental in the transformation.

Dick served at The University of Texas at Dallas in many roles since 1971, including Professor of Chemistry and Dean (twice) at the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He retired in August 2006, and was appointed Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Dick also served with the NIH in Virginia and with IBM in San Jose, California, during sabbaticals taken during his university career.

After retiring, Dick enjoyed spending time with his wife, Patti Branch Caldwell, whom he married on July 13, 2007. They met and bonded over their mutual passion for dogs and teaching at the Gettysburg Golden Retriever National through mutual friends. After marrying, Patti retired and moved from Michigan to Dick’s home in Texas.

They enjoyed advancing the breeds of Golden Retrievers, Pugs, and English Toy Spaniels and spent all of their married life involved with breeding and showing dogs. They were actively involved in several dog clubs. He served as the Western Regional Director of the Golden Retriever Club of America, from 2008-2012, and was the Western VP, 2012-2014. In addition, he served as the President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Golden Retriever Club, 2010-2012, and the President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Toy Dog Club, 2017-2024.

His time in the dog world was made special by the wonderful memories he and Patti shared traveling all over the country to dog shows. They attribute their dogs’ successes to their continuing long-time relationship with their skillful handlers and friends, Christopher and Dylan Kipp Keith. For the last 10 years, through adding their partnership with Doug Johnson and Jamie Hubbard (Clussexx), more exciting goals were achieved.

Character traits loved by Dick’s friends and family were his dry humor, his ability to quickly come up with a funny pun or crack that made whoever he was with laugh (or roll their eyes), his intelligence as demonstrated by his daily expertise in wordle, crossword puzzles and Jeopardy, and his enjoyment of analyzing and sharing news and politics.

Dick is survived by his wife, Patti Branch Caldwell and his daughters Carol Caldwell Romashko (Tim) and Robin Caldwell Griffith (Mike). He was a wonderful father and husband who was very loved and will be greatly missed.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey Averill Caldwell and Betty Wood Caldwell, and Betsie Barr Caldwell, Carol and Robin’s mother.

A private ceremony remembering Dick’s life will be held with family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations be made in his name to one of his favorite dog clubs:

— Dallas-Ft. Worth Toy Dog Club

—English Toy Spaniel Club of Western PA

—Dallas-Ft. Worth Metro Golden Retriever Club

—Dallas-Ft. Worth Pug Rescue.

If you choose to donate to one of these clubs and have questions as to how and where to send your donation, please feel free to contact Patti Caldwell for donation details at schoolhouse@airmail.net