After a full life spanning nine decades and multiple countries and continents, Richard “Dick” Charles Alberding died June 18, 2023 at his home in Cazenovia. Dick was born in Elgin, IL, on Feb. 2, 1931 to Elwyn (Swipes) and Hazel Alberding, second-generation Swedish-Americans. He attended Lincoln Grade School, Elgin High School, Elgin Community College and Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, where he graduated with honors with a degree in marketing in 1953. He lettered in baseball and flirted with professional baseball in the minor league level before an arm injury ended those hopes. Dick married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Hendriksen, with whom he later adopted three children, Mark, Lynn, and Lisa.
After serving in the U.S. Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps from 1953-56, Dick earned an electrical engineering degree from DeVry Technical University. In 1958, Dick began work at the then-small electronic equipment company, Hewlett-Packard. Dick remained with HP for his entire career, including a 10-year stint in Geneva, Switzerland as Managing Director overseeing the company’s European/African operations and as Executive Vice President in Palo Alto until his retirement in 1992. Throughout his career and well into retirement, Dick’s business advice was sought after by entrepreneurs and boards of directors.
In 1982 Dick married Marilyn Clark Wilkinson and they enjoyed 41 years of marriage, extensive travel and friendships around the world. They lived in Half Moon Bay, CA until 1994, when they relocated to Cazenovia and threw themselves into restoring their beloved home, Longshore, and building a large gauge model railroad, the Cazenovia and Longshore R.R., which provided fun summer rides for visitors and neighboring children. Additionally, they were very active in the community.
Dick is survived by his children and their spouses, Mark and Shoko Alberding, Lynn and Laurent Delifer, Lisa and Rob Schlabowske, and Marilyn’s children, Karen Clark, Randa Wilkinson and Holly Wilkinson; eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, who died June 6, 2023.
Memorial services for Richard and Marilyn will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 7, 2023 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 10 Mill Street in Cazenovia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Central New York and of the Finger Lakes, 990 Seventh North St., Liverpool, NY 13088. Condolences for the Alberding family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.
