Richard McCauley

Richard J. McCauley, 82, died on Monday, September 21, 2009 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fl. He was born in Minneapolis, Mn. on May 25, 1927, the son of the late Walter J. and Alice O. (Magnuson) McCauley. He served in the United States Coast Guard prior to earning his Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota.  He became the head of the Occupational Therapy Department in Cleveland, Ohio.  He held positions and did research at the Easter Seal Society, the University of Illinois, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Mount Sinai and Rush University.  He subsequently became a United Nations Scholar. After enjoying a successful career in real estate in Chicago, Illinois, he moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1982.  Mr. McCauley made significant contributions, which included the purchase of the historic Cheney Mansion in Jerseyville, which currently holds the Jersey County Historical Society, the initial funding for the Center for Occupation and Lifestyle Redesign at the University of Southern California; an endowment for several graduate fellowships a the University of Minnesota, a scholarship fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota, funding for houses for Habitat for Humanity and contributions to several arts and charitable organizations in the Chicago and Sarasota area. Surviving are his life partner, Fred Werling of Sarasota; a brother Walter J. McCauley Jr.; a nephew, Barry Vieaux and his wife, Kathy; nephews, Dominic, Nick, Simon, Jonathon Vieaux, and a nicec, Jaden Vieaux. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father William Hembrow officiating. He will buried alongisde in longtime partner, Clayton Brown, at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville with the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 conducting military rites. Memorials may be given to the  preservation of the Cheney Mansion at the Jersey County Historical Society in care of the funeral home.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home