Richard Charles Toole

Richard Charles Toole died peacefully while his wife of 65 years held his hand and comforted him on January 15, 2018 in Hockessin, Delaware at the age of 91.

At 6’-3” tall with very long legs, a healthy heart and lungs, Dick Toole was physically a large man. His hands were enormous and his voice seemed to emanate from his toes but his words had a resonance that was made sonorous by his care for others. He tremendously enjoyed putting his great physical strength to work whether he was chopping wood, felling a tree, or shoveling snow. However, he was careful with the application of his strength and he took great care to analyze the physics and forces involved in the mechanics of his work. As his life progressed he amassed an extensive depth of scientific and worldly knowledge through 10 years of college and a career working among world class scientists at DuPont. He was extremely sharp and witty. His most dominant qualities were his sensitivity, generosity, and the great care he took to include others at every step of the way. Born an identical twin, the type you dream about where you have a perfect match person to augment and balance your life with, Dick Toole and his brother Bob were the last of six children born to John Patrick Toole and Louise Charlotte Knape in Detroit, Michigan in 1926.  They graduated from Catholic Central High School in Detroit in 1944. They enlisted in the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program and together they entered Michigan State University and later the University of Michigan where he and Bob studied Chemistry and each earned a Bachelor’s Degree.

Dick then continued on to the University of Minnesota where he met Cornelia Curley, a psychology student and former beauty queen who possess a keen intellect, a radiant smile and an everlasting desire to support others. In 1952 the couple married in St Paul, Minnesota and for the next 65 years they supported each other through careers and the creation of a family.

Immediately upon receipt of his Doctorate, Dick landed an important role with DuPont in the Electro-chemical Department in Niagara Falls, NY. Later DuPont sponsored him to study for a year at Carnegie Melon in the field of Metallurgy. Just two years into his career, the first of three patents bearing his name was filed for discovery of a new chemical compound that paved the way for improvements in magnetic materials in a variety of applications such as recording tape produced by IBM and General Electric. Coincidentally the US Patent Department granted this patent on Dick’s 30^th birthday in 1956.

Then in 1958 and over the next 5 years the couple welcomed four children into their home in Grand Island, New York near Niagara Falls.

In 1964, DuPont offered Dick a promotion to do research at the Headquarters for R & D in Wilmington Delaware so he and Cornie relocated the family to Kennett Square Pennsylvania. Dick flourished and progressed to become a Supervisor in the Patent Division where they evaluated products and processes for technical merit.

Both inside and independent of work, Dick possessed an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and he was a voracious reader of many topics and forms including poetry. In mid-life he became an accomplished poet who wrote over 150 poems that examine the awe he found in the connections between our physical world, people, community, and the complex relationship between our need to understand ourselves and each other.

He was generous with his personal time. In the 70’s he and Cornie worked with others to create the Kennett Area Joint Action Committee (KJAC). This group provided opportunities for area residents to learn English and other fundamental skills. They also sponsored and constructed a swimming pool, free to all residents where there had been none in the past.

Cornie and Dick set about serious parenting with laughter and great love. His children remember him as a great dad and loyal friend.

Dick is survived by his wife, Cornelia Toole and their four children: Dave (Patty) of West Grove, PA, Tom of Wilmington, DE, Claudia of Cohasset, Massachusetts and Jim (Megan) of New York City. He is also survived by six grandchildren, David, Robert and Matthew Toole of West Grove, PA and Emma, Jack and Kate Quigley all of Cohasset, Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Rosemary White, Betty King, Jack Toole, Kathy Lachner and his twin, Bob Toole.

The family would like to thank the remarkable staff at Cokesbury Village for their efforts to comfort Dick in is final days.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday February 10, 2018 at Cokesbury Village, 726 Loveville Rd., Hockessin Delaware. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Doctors Without Borders at https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org.