Richard Leonard Lovine

October 21, 1929 – December 27, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Richard (Dick) Leonard Lovine, a devoted husband, loving father, and caring grandfather, who passed away peacefully on Friday, December 27, 2024, at the age of 95, in Sacramento, CA.

Dick was born in Chicago, IL, on October 21, 1929. He was the only child of Carl (Gust) and Linnea Lovine. As a young boy, Dick spent many summers with his cousins at Lake Michigan. He attended Lane Technical High School and graduated in 1947. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 – 1952, stationed mainly at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii during the Korean War. Dick went on to study Mathematics and Engineering at University of San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and California State University, Sacramento. He received his master’s degree in 1973 from California State University, Sacramento. His daughter, Sonya, often described him as “the smartest man ever”. He was known for his love and commitment to his family, his strong work ethic, and his dedication to lifelong learning and intellectual pursuit.

Dick began his career in the aerospace industry in 1957 at Aerojet-General Corp. (once known as the “General Motors of United States Rocketry”) as a mechanical engineer and retired with 35 years of dedicated service. He was well-respected in his field and was a recognized expert in Solid Propellant Combustion.

On April 3, 1962, Dick married the love of his life, Stella Gonzalez, in Sacramento. They met on a blind date and were married for over 62 years, until the time of his death. Dick and Stella (aka, Hon and Nana) shared three children, Kathleen, Karen and Sonya. Together, he and his wife enjoyed travelling far and wide. They spent their retirement years taking care of their grandchildren who brought them great happiness. Hon always took great interest in the lives of his grandkids, who now hold many happy memories of time spent with their grandfather from their childhood.

Dick was an active, fitness-oriented person. He enjoyed running, cycling, swimming, weightlifting, playing tennis, and playing ping-pong, too. He also loved to fish, oftentimes taking his daughters with him. Dick enjoyed cheering for the San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Giants, and taking his family to baseball games. But we believe he was a Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan at heart! Dick had a love of history and mathematics, and was an avid reader of history and scientific books and magazines. Some of his beloved charitable organizations included the Sacramento SPCA, Loaves and Fishes, The Salvation Army, and Doctors without Borders.

Family vacations, weekends at McKinley Park and William Land Park, helping his daughters with their homework, special family dinners at the Coral Reef, visiting the grandparents, going to church, playing croquet in the backyard, and singing “In the Good Old Summertime” to his daughters in the family swimming pool – this is how Dick, a great father and husband, will always be remembered. He instilled the importance of going to college and having a good job in his daughters. Dick worked hard all of his life to provide for his family and loved his family deeply.

Richard’s memory will be cherished by his wife, Stella; daughters, Kathleen Borbón, Karen Peterson and Sonya Lovine; sons-in-law, Rafael Borbón and Kevin Peterson; grandchildren, Katrina Ordaz, Rafael Borbón, Jr., Kristan Washoe, Kaylee, Kyle, Katelyn, and Karenna Peterson; five great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; special friend and caregiver, Steven Campbell; and grand-dog, Wonder.

The family would like to thank Sutter Hospice for their compassionate care of our father/husband; and the staff at Sutter Medical Center, particularly Dr. Nosherwan Zahid, for their excellent care. Finally, our family would like to thank the entire staff at Woodside Healthcare Center for providing the best care to our “Hon”. An extra-special thank you to a few of Hon’s favorites – Joseph, for giving him the best shaves; Molly, for being strong; Nataliya, for her bedside manner; and Brenda, for her compassion. Thank you all from our hearts to yours.

Private family service to be held.

Hon, you were the best husband, dad, grandfather, friend we could ever wish for. You were a quiet soul and a gentle leader. You truly were the smartest man we could ever know.  We loved you dearly and we will miss you so.