Richard Eugene Toth

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Richard Eugene Toth

April 13, 1937 ~ January 3, 2018

Richard Eugene Toth passed away peacefully on January 3, 2018, surrounded by his family. Richard was born on April 13, 1937 to Anna Horvath and Joseph Toth in Trenton, N.J.

Richard was blessed with a loving family and vibrant career. Richard and his wife, Diana Lynn Ives, lovingly celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April 2016 with their children, grandchildren and other family members and close friends. Richard and Diana were married on May 14, 1966 in Trenton, N.J.

Richard is survived by Diana, his children, Justin (Kathleen Weron) and Erica (Greg Walker), and his five beloved grandchildren: Nicholas, Andrew, Wren, William and Tristan.

Richard and Diana shared a love for the mountains and the landscapes of the West, and they raised their children and grandchildren to marvel at the beauty and wonder of the natural world around them. A gifted and avid fly fisherman, Richard treasured his time spent on the rivers throughout the West.  He shared this passion with his friends, grandchildren and son-in-law, with whom he spent many days wading through Utah’s rivers. Every member of Richard’s family can recount tales of long walks through the mountains and deserts of Utah with him, engaged in conversations punctuated with wisdom and love. These memories will be with us all.  Always.    

Richard’s career was dedicated to teaching in his chosen field of landscape architecture and environmental planning. He graduated with a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 1963. He then joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Landscape Architecture, where he taught until he returned to Harvard, joining the faculty in the GSD in 1968. In 1973, Richard and Diana followed their hearts to the West. Richard joined Utah State University’s faculty and served for many years as chairman of the Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning. He retired after 50 years of teaching in 2014 with a lengthy list of accomplishments and awards, but more importantly, an even longer list of colleagues who called him professor, mentor, guide and friend.

A funeral Mass was celebrated January 10, 2018 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Interment followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.       

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Utah Rivers Council at utahrivers.org.  

Online condolences may be offered to the family and a tribute slideshow may be viewed at www.starksfuneral.com.