Harold Rodney Raasch
22 August 1919 to 4 February 2004
Harold dedicated his life to God and his Church. He served on just about every Board and Committee at First Church at one point or another and loved the Cathedral Choir, in which he sang for many years, and now he sings with the angels
One of Harold's most endearing qualities was his warmth and laughter. He was a no-nonsense person when it came to dealing with the business at hand but he was quick to give help when help was needed. He was greatly cherished and he will be sorely missed. To all of you who knew Harold Best--Goodbye and God Bless
Addison W. Richards (Born June 28, 1856 - Watertown, Ohio) Mr. Addison was the son of thomas E. and Sarah (Hughes) Richards). His area of expertise was in real estate. He married Lottie R. Buck in 1880. Mr. Richards was educated at Beverly college, Beverly, Ohio. He was a Junior partner in the firm of T. E. Richard and Son of Zanesville, Ohio from 1873 - 1898. He became the head of the firm in 1898 and conduced a wholesale and retail crockery and wallpaper business under his own name until his move to California in 1903. He moved to Pomona, California and engaged in the orange growing business from 1904 - 1909, at which time, he began working in real estate. he was prominently identified with public interests within his community upon arriving in California. He was president of the Pomona Fixture & Wiring company of Pomona; President of the Claremont Co-operative Water Company and Board of Trade in Claremont, and a Congregationalist.
Charles Edward Richards (1859 - June 1942) Founder and President of the Construction Company of Richards-Neustadt Co. Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Mr. Richards moved to Riverside, California, in 1889, where he engaged in the citrus industry for the next 10 years after which, he moved to Los Angeles. Among the buildings constructed by this firm were the Henry E. Huntington home, the Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, the Pacific Mutual Building, Orthopedic Hospital and the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
Mr. Richards joined First Church in 1889 and during his many years of membership, served as Chairman of the 75th Anniversary Committee and as a Trustee. He was a member of the Harbor Commission for two years, President of the University Club in 1912 and President of the Home Society of California for 20 years.
Mrs. Dorothy E. Richards of Los Angeles, Calif., formerly of New Jersey, (died July 27, 1999) was an executive secretary at Mobile Oil in California before retiring 15 years ago. Earlier, she had worked at Prudential and Hess Oil in Newark. Mrs. Richards was a member of the Women's Bible Group at the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles. Born in Belleville, Mrs. Richards lived in Westfield before moving to Los Angeles in about 1958.
Leslie Richardson
1941 - 2002
Leslie Richardson was an active partner in a prominent advertising agency here in Los Angeles and greatly respected in her field. So well respected was she in her field that on her passing, cards were received from all over the world that were overflowing with words of love and respect for her achievements.
Just an aside from her memorial book that I had to include. When Leslie was a child, she was asked to be a model for one of Norman Rockwell's illustrations. She told Mr. Rockwell she wasn't allowed to talk to strangers. If you saw her adorable baby picture, you would easily to see how she was chosen.
Leslie was an active supporter of the Pilgrim School. Contributions in her memory can be made through the the school in the name of the Leslie Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Leslie was always willing to lend a hand where needed and First Church was one of her many projects, but for her, they were not jobs, they were gifts of love. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and most of all, by her family by whom she was obviously adored.