So......my dad died.
Yeah. Sorry. Didn't know how else to say that.
Not my normal newsletter no but you don’t get to write this one often. I just wanted to share some thoughts about him here (and as a bonus, the more formal obit). I don’t think I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it, but maybe just walk away knowing there are really smart people in this world who care and devote their lives to making the big machines of society, serve people better. Anyway, here you go. I miss you dad.
My dad died on Wednesday the 7th of August. He had a PhD in Political Science from MIT and worked for decades both in and out of the federal government, researching and writing about medical technology and government healthcare policy. Here's a partial list of his publications (https://www.rand.org/pubs/authors/r/rettig_richard.html) and here's a short resume (http://www.hcfo.org/spotlight/richard-rettig-phd.html) - he predates LinkedIn 😉 His was a big brain in a family of big brains.
I wish I could talk about all the time we spent together and all the fond memories I have but I have a serious deficit of those. My mom and dad divorced when I was about 1.5 or 2 and my visits with him from then until high school were both limited and colored by getting one side of the story of a very acrimonious divorce. He did teach me how to ride a bike; a purple Schwinn with a metallic, banana seat, a sissy bar and layback handlebars. My mom and dad were both wicked smart people and when really smart people fight, they can be mean. I regret that separation and I regret getting only one side of the story.
I really started to get to know my dad again when I was in college. My fraternity little brother and I drove from Carrollton, GA to NW DC, Military and Jennifer if I remember right. I'll never forget the first time I saw his office and it looked just like how my room looked in college. Can interior decorating (or lack thereof) be genetic? Similar tastes in books (both type and quantity), in notetaking, in considering shelves the most important kind of furniture. I think I disappointed him when I didn't finish my PhD like he had, but he never once made me feel bad about that. He was an activist in his day, kind of the ur-type intellectual activist. He was a relentless researcher who filled filing cabinets with his notes.
He taught himself to be fluent enough in Spanish to be able to deliver a scientific lecture in Spanish, in Cuba. He was passionate about his work and his faith and he approached both with a discerning intellect that I can imagine being attractive to my mom who approached things like politics and rock lyrics with the same force. He worked for RAND and the federal government and wrote about government policy and healthcare and especially end-stage renal failure. Not sexy but if you have anyone in your life who has to be on dialysis, you hope there are people like my dad trying to figure out better ways to deliver that care.
He passed away due to a range of complications but with Parkinson’s at the root. That's an amazingly cruel disease and I can't begin to imagine how hard it was on Marisella, his wife, to care for him. My sister, Kirsten, also helped carry that burden and he was awfully lucky to have two women like that in his life.
I miss my dad and I miss the time that I didn't get to spend with him. I hope he's at peace now, surrounded by those who have gone before and of course, by books
The Formal Obituary
Dr. Richard A. Rettig passed into eternal life on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. He was 87. Born in Seattle and raised in Bothell, Washington, Rettig was a 1953 Bothell High School graduate. In 2023, he was inducted into the Northshore School District’s Wall of Honor. Richard received a B.A. from the University of Washington (1958) and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1968). He held faculty appointments at three universities. He was a staff member of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. His longest tenure was as a Senior Social Scientist at the RAND Corporation.
Before graduate school, Richard became vice president of the National Student Association, then president. Next, he became NSA international representative. He toured the world speaking to and listening to students regarding their perceptions of the U.S.
He became a tireless researcher and author on medical technology and government healthcare, specifically cancer and kidney failure. His focus was on how these forces could be harnessed to improve peoples’ lives. The questions Rettig raised and the points he made in his writings and in his testimonies before Congress regarding the National Cancer Act of 1971, the use of medical therapies before they are clinically proven to be effective, and the increasing spread of dialysis/kidney transplantation helped set the stage for major expansion of federal financing of these medical technologies. In 1993. Rettig was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In 2005, he retired to St. Augustine, Florida, and became involved in both church and larger community. At Memorial Presbyterian Church he was strengthened by his faith and engaged in Christian Education as well as various leadership roles. He was active in The 40th Accord, a group honoring Civil Rights workers and their history locally.
He was compassionate and generous, a family man and true scholar. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Marisella Veiga, his daughter Kirsten (Curtis Scott), his son Mark (Greta), and two grandchildren as well as brothers Jim (Jan), Jerry (Nancy) and Edward and many nieces and nephews. Surviving in-laws are Glenna Veiga, Luis (Suzi) Veiga, Juan (Marjorie) Veiga, and Carmen Rodes Veiga.
Service at Bothell United Methodist Church in Bothell, Washington, on August 26 at 10 a.m.
My heart goes out to you, Mark. I couldn’t let such a raw post go by uncommented. It sounds like you inherited some of your strengths from him and it’s good that you can hold that close. Take care of yourself and your loved ones as you process this loss. — Catherine
So sorry for your loss, Mark.