Richard (Dick) Carlson, 84, of Heathrow, Florida, passed away April 10, 2015 at his home after a brief illness. A private service will be held later this year in Chicago.

Dick was born September 26, 1930 in Chicago, IL to Gustav and Mildred Carlson. He had a younger brother, Ron, who predeceased him. He graduated from Hirsch High School in 1948 and from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1956. He married Diane Russell in 1949 and together they raised three children. He later married Barbara Brown in November 1979 in Midland, Michigan. He had a distinguished career as a chemical engineer with Dow Chemical Company retiring in 1992 as Director of Process Research. In 1991 he was named a Process Fellow, Dow's highest distinction in research and development. At the time of this award it was said "Carlson's breadth and depth of knowledge in the area of process research and development is unmatched in Dow and possibly in the entire chemical industry."

Dick was a very compassionate man who was known throughout his life for helping family members, relatives and friends. He enjoyed sports, reading and sailing. He wrestled in high school, winning the Chicago City championship for his weight class in his senior year, and was the quarterback of his high school football team.

He was very active in his community in his early years volunteering as a Scoutmaster, a Junior Achievement advisor and President of the Newcomers Club. He was an Institute of Gas Technology Scholar, an advisor to the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT, a member of the fossil energy advisory committee of the Department of Energy, a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and a Trustee of the Michigan Energy and Resource Research Association.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Barbara of Heathrow, FL, his three children, Rick Carlson and his wife Pam of Chicago, IL, Pam Teevan and her husband Bill of Bogota, NJ, Kurt Carlson of San Diego, CA and his two stepchildren Jasmine Jenni and Robert Jenni and his wife Kelen of Thalwil, Zurich, Switzerland. He has three grandchildren, Scott Carlson and his wife Tammy, Amy (Carlson) Wilson and her husband Mark, Sarah Teevan and her partner Eric Johnson; two step grandchildren, Marc and Jordan Jenni; five great grandchildren, Kyle and Luke Carlson, Lane, Cole and Graham Wilson; and a nephew Eric Carlson, his wife Meghan and their children Brady, Bryce and Ansley.