Richard Vincent Styczynski, aka Rick Styfer, Stitch and the Blond Bomber, passed away at his Burr Ridge home surrounded by 20 family members on Feb. 21, 2022. He was 83.
Rick was born in Chicago in 1939 and grew up in Marquette Park. He had fond memories of playing football for St Rita High School and continued his football dreams at St Ambrose College as a scholarship athlete. There he met his future wife, Suzy. He established Styfer Construction in 1961 and built the family’s first home in Oak Lawn. In 1980, after a long weekly “Sunday after church” search, he found the perfect wooded lot in Burr Ridge, where he built the family’s second home. He took great care in maintaining the home, and especially tended and admired his backyard, Styfer Park.
Besides his family, his greatest passion was his custom printing company, Creative Menus. He specialized in restaurant and hotel printing. He also built the Creative Printing Co. building in 1976 as a full-service printing company. He employed all his children, along with several of their friends. He perfected his R&D by taking a menu from every restaurant he frequented.
Rick continued to sell menus and work his business until his passing. He was a great storyteller, quick witted and loved his hot dogs, pork roast and a Maxwell Street pork chop sandwich. The ultimate love of his life was his family. He loved to tell the story of meeting Suzy Fischer on her first day of college at Marycrest in Davenport, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Suzy; his children, Cindy (the late Charlie) Morgan, Suzy (Will) Marcus of Hinsdale, Amy (Tom) Sabin and Rich (Nicole) Styczynski; and his grandchildren, Richard, Hope, Sierra, Weston, Peter, Holly, Alexandra and Jonathan.
He was preceded in death by his children, Janie (Ray) Soto, and Teddy and Julie, who died as infants.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at Adolf Funeral Home, 7000 S. Madison St. Willowbrook.
Family and friends will meet at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, for a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 709 S. Plainfield Road, Darien.
Brian Powell Funeral Directors of Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
