Richard Lofy

Richard (Dick) A. Lofy, Professional Engineer (PE) passed away on August 11, 2018 after 88 years. His was a productive and meaningful life. He was proud to be a “liberal” in the mostly conservative small Milwaukee suburb of Elm Grove, Wisconsin. 

Dick began his life journey on June 19 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee. He was born to Frank and Mae Lofy, and had one little sister, Dorothy. He attended grade school at St. Sebastian, went to high school at Marquette, and earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at Marquette University.

He was drafted into the army, and served two years as a SP (special and professional) due to his engineering background. Following his discharge, he began work at General Electric in Cincinnati, Ohio while serving as a Captain in the air force reserve. Dick was then transferred to GE X-Ray in Milwaukee but later moved on to A.O.Smith to work on a nuclear submarine project.  When that project ended, he was ready to go out on his own. He partnered up with his good friend, Walter Foley, and together they opened up Parameter, a mechanical engineering consulting firm specializing in nuclear power plants. He ran Parameter successfully for 47 years (1963 - 2010), retiring at age 80. All that time he was a proud member of the Association of Mechanical Engineers and the American Nuclear Society.

Dick married his high school sweetheart, Gail Gray, on August 21, 1954. They were married for sixty-three plus years Together, they had four daughters, Kaye, Eileen, Lisa, and Laura. They had four sons by marriage, Mike, Mark, Brent, and Jeff, seven grandchildren (Matt, Alison, Rick, Lydia, Jin, Qi, and Sun), and two great-grandchildren (Mabel and Margaret). 

Dick worked hard, but he was not all work and no play. He enjoyed more than 35 years with his family at the cottage on Pine Lake in northern Wisconsin: “Where 51 ends, and the fun begins.” He loved riding snowmobiles in the winter and motorcycles in the summer. He was a member of the Recyclists, a club for “mature” cyclists. He loved everything Polka – bands, dancing and just listening.  He even had a stint as the President of the Wisconsin Polka Boosters Association.

Dick was a loving husband, a father you could count on, a supporter of the underdog, and a compassionate man who lived his life well.  He will be remembered always and sorely missed.

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