Richard John Vlasich

Richard John Vlasich of Fort Worth, TX passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three daughters on May 27, 2026. He was 83 years old.

Richard, known as “Dick” to his family and friends, was born on September 9, 1942 in Joliet, Illinois. He was the only child of John George Vlasich and Zita Valentina Vlasich, both of Joliet. He attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and Joliet Catholic High School. Like his father before him, he started his college career at Lewis University (formerly Lewis College) in Romeoville, IL. He transferred to the University of Cincinnati where he earned a BS in Industrial Design. It was in Cincinnati when on a blind date, he met Carol Anne Vlasich, his wife of 61 years. They wed in September of 1965 and were soon on their way to Fort Worth, TX where Dick was accepted into the School of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University, earning an MFA in Ceramics.

Dick enjoyed a successful career as an Industrial and Packaging Designer. He used design fundamentals and artistic expression to create innovative commercial and medicinal materials for JCPenney, Pier One Imports, and Alcon Laboratories. At Alcon, he designed three dose-dispensing mechanisms and held patents for each of them. At JCPenney, he was hired to develop a Packaging Design Division, working with a team of designers to create bar codes and eco-conscious paper bags. He founded a private consulting firm, Vlasich and Associates, which served businesses across Tarrant County. He was a certified Real Estate Agent, owning multiple properties in Fort Worth and he was also a self-employed Retail Day Trader.

Dick was an active member of The Industrial Design Society and served several times as a National Packaging Judge at annual conferences in Washington, DC.

Through his love of nature and study of Environment and Art in Catholic Worship (National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1978) he designed and created countless Catholic liturgical objects through mediums of clay, wood and other natural materials. His work graced the altar of his longtime parish home, St. Andrew Catholic Church, with chalices, patens, worship aids, liturgical season guides, and liturgical banners that hung during holy seasons. At the former St. Thomas More Chapel of Fort Worth’s The College of St. Thomas More, he conceived of and built a seven-foot wooden cross that welcomed worshippers as they entered.

At the center of Dick’s life was the family he created with Carol. He was a devoted husband and father. During his last ten years, he was Carol’s sole caretaker through her battle with cancer and Parkinson’s. He loved his three daughters, Beth, Laurie and Emily with chivalry, kindness, generosity, protectiveness and humor. He instilled in them the inner strength they would need to accomplish any goal they pursued. He loved his sons-in-law, Michael, Arnel and Bret and was blessed with four grandchildren who loved him: Lucie, Charlie, Richard (his namesake) and Elise.

Dick enjoyed traveling, pottery, golfing, fishing and spending time at the beach, especially on St. George Island, FL surrounded by his family. He was a true cigar aficionado. His love for dogs was unparalleled and nothing made him happier than having “a puff” on the back porch with his dog in his lap.

Dick is preceded in death by his father John and mother Zita. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carol, and daughters Beth (Mike), Laurie (Arnel, Richard and Elise) and Emily (Bret, Lucie and Charlie).

Family and friends are invited to gather for the Mass of Christian Burial on June 12, 2026 at 11:00 am at Saint Andrew Catholic Church, 3312 Dryden Road, Fort Worth.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Union Gospel Mission and the Humane Society of North Texas.