Richard Collins Elliott

Richard Collins Elliott passed

away May 30th at peace in his

home surrounded by his family and

his beloved dog, Charlotte. His

enduring legacy is survived by his

wife, Beverley; son Kirk and wife

Martha and grandchildren Lesley

and Meaghan; daughter Christine

Elliott-Armstrong and husband

Andrew and granddaughter

Barbara Savoy-Pacella; daughter

Kimberly Storstad and husband

David. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two

brothers, Raymond and Nevin Elliott.

Richard, better known as “Skipper Dick,” was born February

4, 1921, in Los Angeles, CA, to Raymond and Jewell Elliott.

With a very early introduction to the ocean, Dick spent all

of his summers on and around Catalina Island aboard the

family yacht, Julio. Between Cherry Cove and Avalon, Dick

learned his love for the open sea, which was the starting line

for all of his future worldly adventures. He graduated high

school in Seattle, WA, and before enrolling in the NROTC

to become an officer in the Navy, he attended UC Berkeley

in 1940. He later transferred to UCLA in 1942 where he

met the love of his life, Beverley Sinclair. They married

April 15, 1944, and spent their honeymoon on Mare Island

before Dick was shipped out on the USS Mugford. Surviving

the war in the Pacific, he returned to the family automobile

business, Ray Elliott and Sons.

While employed in the automobile business, Dick decided

to build the family’s first home. This passion for construction

led the family to move to Newport Beach, CA, in 1965

where he envisioned new development opportunities.

Over the next two decades, Dick, his partners and family

were responsible for developing many of the commercial,

industrial and office real estate projects in and around the

Newport-Mesa and Irvine areas of Orange County, CA.

After a very successful career, Dick retired in 1977 to pursue

his love for cruising, sailing, racing and to spend more time

with his family.

Dick was an avid skier, backgammon and dominoes player,

dancer, and could whistle any song as though he were

singing. However, his main passion was embracing the sea

aboard the many boats he acquired throughout his life. One

in particular being Jamboree, where he sailed across the

Pacific retracing his course of duty while aboard the USS

Mugford in the spring of 1995. While in Nagasaki, Japan,

Richard, son Kirk, and crew, celebrated the 50th anniversary

marking the end of WWII.

Dick had many passions and talents, but he will always be

remembered as an amazing husband, father, grandfather,

and as a trusted and loving individual to his friends over the

years. His generosity and class will never be forgotten.

We love you Skipper Dick.

On June 22, 2009, we will be spreading Skipper Dick’s ashes

in the sea he loved so much, followed by a celebration of his

life at 1:00pm at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. In lieu of

flowers and gifts, the family requests to keep the memory of

Dick in your thoughts and prayers or to donate in the name

Richard C. Elliott to the charity of your choice. The family

wishes to thank the care givers, Amy and Angel, for their

immense generosity in providing much needed care and love

during his final months.