Richard Fuit

Richard Allen Fuit

October 31, 1961 ~ December 13, 2020

Richard Allen Fuit, 59, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 13, 2020, surrounded by family.  He was born October 31, 1961 in Anaheim, CA, to Gary Roger Fuit and Jannett Maie Thorne.  His formative years were spent growing up in San Diego, California, where he developed his lifelong (sometimes heartbreaking) love for the Chargers.  In high school, he moved to Utah and was a proud graduate of Clearfield High.  He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics from Weber State University, whereafter he bled purple for life, and his MBA from Utah State University.  He also attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces where he earned a Master’s of National Resource Strategy, and earned a Master’s of Systems Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Rick took great pride in his celebrated career in civilian service for the United States Air Force, especially in his position as Deputy Director of the ICBM Systems Directorate.  He met many of his favorite people at work.  In recent years, he was especially proud of his work on the Northrup Grumman Falcon Hill project.  He was charismatic and beloved by so many, his family often joked about him never leaving the house without running into someone he knew and striking up a conversation.  He deeply appreciated what it meant to him to help serve our country with his passion and talents, and at every one of his career milestones, he was always the most thankful for the support and camaraderie of his colleagues.

Anyone who knew Rick knew his unparalleled love of the outdoors.  It meant everything to him, and it was where he found the most peace.  He loved to grab his skis and hit the slopes with friends and family, and was a proud volunteer for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.  He loved biking, hiking, fishing, running up mountains for the Ragnar Relay, running down mountains in the Hood to Coast Relay in Oregon, boating, football, and baseball.  Rick also loved coaching his children’s various sports teams.  His happiest times were when he was surrounded by others, and he lived for talking, counseling, advising, lecturing, and all other forms of sh*t-shooting.  He found great fulfillment after his paralysis by serving as a self-described “crash test dummy” for the University of Utah TRAILS Program, as he so passionately believed in helping make outdoor sports accessible to people with all sorts of disabilities.

Richard is survived by his children, Kelly Gray (Jessica) Corwin, Jordan Ashley Fuit (Jason M. Alexander), and Nichole Jade Fuit; grandchildren, Grayson and Desmond Corwin; furry grandchildren, Ginger, Jarvis, and Dessa; mother, Jannett Fuit; and brothers, Clifford Fuit and Curtis Fuit.  He was preceded in death by his father, Gary Fuit; and beloved outdoor companion, Emma.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Rick’s name to one of the organizations that meant the most to him: Roads to Independence in Ogden, UT; Neuroworx in Sandy, UT; or the University of Utah TRAILS Program.  He loved his friends at all three organizations, and the work they do was incredibly important to him.  To keep people safe and socially distanced during the pandemic an online memoriam will be hosted by his family Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 3 p.m. MST. Details will be posted on Rick’s social media platforms.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.