SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Richard “Dick” Clark Stuntz, M. D., 88, of Savannah, Georgia, husband of Suzanne Shellman Stuntz, died Friday morning, August 6, 2010, at his home.

Born in Santiago, Chile, he was the son of missionary parents, the late Hugh Clark Stuntz and Florence Wolford Stuntz.  Dr. Stuntz was of the Methodist faith.  He was a United States Army veteran having earned the rank of Captain.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William W. Stuntz, and grandson, Garrick Dillingham.

To say Dick Stuntz embraced and lived life to the fullest would be an understatement.  A dreamer and passionate advocate of encouraging others to reach and realize their full potential in life, he himself was a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, after which he served as an Ob/Gyn for almost 30 years, and later completed a residency at Johns Hopkins where he subsequently served in the Department of Psychiatry for more than twenty five years.

Possessed of a keen sense of adventure, Dick relished traveling the world with his wife Suzanne and family.  No sooner would they return from a trip than he would be planning the next.  He wasn’t afraid of the world and the varied people in it.  Rather, he embraced everyone.  He believed in people and their potential.  He recognized their value.  “If you’re good to them, they’ll be good back to you.”

Accomplished, yet modest, Dick would rather see others benefit than him.  He took advantage of opportunities to be a role model to others.  He valued what other’s thought and said.  It was yet another avenue of learning for him.

Intelligent and logical, focused and organized, Dick also enjoyed more artistic interests, serving as the Director of the Performing Arts Guild in North Carolina.  He enjoyed the theater and acting.  He had a playful side, a spirit of youth if you will, that seemed to develop and flourish later in life, largely influenced by his granddaughter Claire, whom he so enjoyed reading to and playing with as often as possible. 

Dick Stuntz lived the life to which many aspire.  Yet it wasn’t his accomplishments that defined him.  Intelligent, well mannered, possessed of good humor, trustworthy, compassionate, nurturing, supportive, loyal and loving – these are the greater qualities that paint the more accurate picture of him.

To try and sum up an individual’s life in three words would seem to be impossible.  In Dick’s case, it’s quite simple:  “Others before self.”

Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Suzanne Shellman Stuntz of Savannah, Georgia; children, Lauren Dianne “Dede” Long, Richard “Rick” C. Stuntz, Jr., M.D., Rebecca Lucille Burgin, Leah Jane Dillingham, Peter Michael Stuntz, Christofer Robin Stuntz, William Thomas Ireland, Jr. and Kristine Ireland Compton; eleven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one sister, Jane Jager.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

Those wishing to make donations in lieu of flowers may contribute to the Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation – 2002 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401.

The family wishes to extend their sincere and heartfelt thanks to friends and neighbors who have supported them through this difficult time.