Richard Dana Gage went to his heavenly home on July 25, 2023, after nearly 81 years of living it up and telling great stories to his family and friends.
Richard’s story began on August 20, 1942, when he was born to Richard and Marjorie Gage, in Kansas City, Missouri. Highlights from his early years include his family’s stint in France and good times growing up in Southern California. He had picked up the French language, and upon return to the USA, schoolmates called him “Frenchie.” He outgrew the nickname, and became a cool member of a car club shuttled around by a purple hearse.
After graduation from UCLA in 1964, Richard studied Spanish, spent a few years studying at a medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico, and earned his medical degree at University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Richard enjoyed his thriving career, with his bilingual medical practices in Oakdale, CA, Salida, CO, and Boise, ID, before retiring and returning to Oakdale to enjoy time with family.
Richard’s wife, Dierdra, was the co-star of his life’s adventure; they married in 1965 and enjoyed 58 years together. Richard’s buddy, John Francis, had dated Dierdra’s sister. John insisted that Richard meet this cute girl--Dierdra! That’s a story he told all his life.
Anyone who ever skied with Richard recalls him zipping under the lift line, making everyone else look like they were standing still. He loved to tell everyone that “we are going to take it easy, work on technique,” and then he’d blast downhill, kicking up flurries of white powder and chuckling all the way. He’d tell the story of how no one could keep up with him. This story became epic, retold at many family parties.
Whenever Richard was around, there was a story to be told. And if he wasn’t drawing from real-life experiences, he would entertain with limericks and funny short stories. His recall for jokes, naughty and nice, was impressive and captivating. Richard Dana Gage loved to share his stories because he loved his people. And his people will forever re-tell his stories. He was a beloved husband to Dierdra, father to Elliot, Natalie, and Lisa, father-in-law to Lisa (Colombo) Gage and Jeffrey Cannedy, and brother to Reed Gage. His sister, Jana Gage, and his parents, Richard and Marjorie Gage, preceded him in death. Twelve grandchildren called him “Grampa”: Lillian, Gabriel, Christian, Benjamin, Ruby, Samson, and Eli Gage, Brooke and Blake Cannedy, and Madeleine, Nicholas, and Isabella Gage.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Sept. 13, 2023