Zody, Richard Eugene

Dr. Richard E. Zody, 70, of Blacksburg, Va. died in his home Friday, July 20, 2007. He was born May 11, 1937 in Richland County, Ohio to Marie Beverage Zody and Melvin Zody who preceded him in death.

His family moved to Terre Haute, Ind. when he was nine years old where he actively participated in the Boy Scouts and YMCA. Later he taught and mentored many young men as he taught them swimming and judo. Richard served in the Army’s Military Police for three years and in the Honor Guard in South Korea. He earned his B.A. and Master’s degrees from Indiana State University and his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University. He was an Associate Professor at Wichita State University for eight years and then moved to VA Tech as professor and chair of Urban Affairs and Planning Department where he authored many academic publications in his field.

He served his local community as a member of the Montgomery County School Board, and his state government in multiple high level capacities. Richard was an accomplished national and international consultant for various agencies and numerous countries including the Commonwealth of Independent States such as Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine .

He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Mary Jane Heinig Zody and three sons; Karl and his wife Tracie, Gregg, Morgan and his wife Katrina; as well as four grandchildren by Karl and Tracie, Nikolaus, Jarod, Hannah and Olivia. He is also survived by his brother, Curtis Zody and wife Sauny; sister Karla Zody M.D.; brother Gary Zody and his special friend Sharon Beeson; sister Cynthia and husband Ray Olmi; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Richard touched many lives, especially his family’s, colleagues and the many students he taught and mentored over the course of his long and distinguished teaching career. He loved teaching and will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 23, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Christine Brownlie officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Blacksburg Fire Department, 2700 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24060, or the Blacksburg Rescue Squad, 200 Progress Street, NE, Blacksburg, VA 24060. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. prior to the service Monday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, SW, Blacksburg.