Fredrick L. “Derf” Richter, 66, of 80 Riterville Road, Mt. Alton, went to be with his dogs and God and on Monday, April 15, 2013, at his residence. Born May 20, 1946 in Philipsburg, he was the son of the late Rodney Dorsey Richter and Gertrude M. (Hensal) Richter.
Mr. Richter graduated from Moshannon Valley Area High School in 1964 and from Lock Haven State University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education and comprehensive social science. He completed his student teaching at Norristown Senior High School in the Philadelphia area. Mr. Richter then earned his Masters of Education Degree in education administration with a certification in secondary school administration from the Pennsylvania State University in 1973.
His teaching career began at Weir High School in Weirton, WV, where he taught sociology and physical education for one year. He then transferred to Glendale Area School District, where he taught senior high economics, problems of democracy and 20th century American history from 1969-1973.
While at Glendale, he was also the assistant coach for varsity football, coached the junior high basketball team and was advisor to the varsity club. From 1973-1974, he served an administrative internship at Everett Area School District as the Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal while also continuing graduate studies at the Pennsylvania State University. In 1974, he was appointed principal of the Johnsonburg Area Junior-Senior High School; at the age of 28, he was the youngest principal in the state of Pennsylvania at that time.
In 1976, he returned home to care for his mother and grandmother and was employed as an education consultant in Pennsylvania for the Jostens’s Corp. of Topeka, KS. Subsequently, Mr. Richter was recruited as a supervisor for adjudicated juveniles in residential treatment facilities in the Pittsburgh area. He then continued in various positions in the education field, eventually retiring in 2000 from the Bradford Area School District. During his 18 years in secondary education at Bradford, he was an itinerant education of students, supervised the in-school suspension program and the after-school and Saturday detention programs. Occasionally he substituted as the high school assistant principal. Before full-time retirement, he instructed at-risk students for the Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems in Custer City.
An avid outdoorsman, he especially loved bird dogs and hounds as valued companions. In 1991, he was a co-founder of the Black Cherry Chapter #641 of Trout Unlimited in the Bradford area and served as director and officer. He was involved in the 1994 formation of the Youth Group of Trout Unlimited. He served on the McKean County Postal Advisory Board and was a member of the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club, the National Wild Turkey Federation and several other local sportsmen’s clubs.
Mr. Richter was a volunteer at the Mt. Jewett Memorial Public Library. Additionally, he had been a member of the Pine Acres Country Club for several years, winning the 1990 James Matthew’s Memorial Championship.
He is survived by a daughter, Christine Kutch and a grandson, Taylor Kutch, both of Clearfield; a sister, Gail Richter of Melbourne, FL; a brother, Rodney Richter, and his wife, Cheryl, also of Melbourne FL.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. May 11 at the Kushequa Union Church, with the Rev. Bruce Kumher pastor officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Memorials may be made to the Mt. Jewett and Smethport Libraries or to the McKean County SPCA.
Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com.
