Dr. Richard J. Halik, Ph.D. “Dick”
Age 78, of Lansing, MI, died on December 11, 2021 following a short battle with an aggressive cancer. Dick was born in Lansing on February 11, 1943, the son of John and Marian (Sprik) Halik. He was a graduate of Lansing Eastern High School; attended Lansing Community College, then graduated from Western Michigan University, earned a Master’s and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Following his graduation from Western, Dick started his professional career in the Lansing School District teaching science at C.W. Otto Junior High School. His career quickly advanced as he became Director of State and Federal Programs, Principal at Gardner Middle School, Director of Elementary Education, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and served as Superintendent of the Lansing School District from 1985-2000. He was truly a home grown Superintendent. Following retirement the Lansing School District Board voted to give him the title of Superintendent Emeritus. He then worked for another 20 years consulting with school Superintendents and School Boards around the state, regarding district policies, with both Neola and the National Charter Schools Institute. Dick was heavily involved in the community, serving on many boards, such as, Boys and Girls Club, Junior Achievement, Woldumar Nature Center, EstesPalmer Foundation, Lansing Host Lions Club, the Lansing Area Safety Council, the Session of Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church and the Sparrow Health System. Receiving many awards, Dick was most proud of being the initial recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Lansing Community College.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy (Payne) Halik, and brother-in-law James (Judy) Payne. Surviving are: his partner Emily Simon; daughters, Sarah (Dr. Robert) Donovan of Great Falls, Virginia, Kelly (Jasen) Veenstra of Cypress, Texas, and Molly (Steven) Motz of Lansing; grandsons, Trey Donovan, Jackson Veenstra, and Miles Motz; brothers, James (Connie) Halik and William (Cheryl) Halik; brother-in-law, Robert Buchanan; sister-in-law, Lorraine Payne; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews; and other extended family members.
The family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 21 (masks will be required). The Funeral Service will be held at 12 Noon Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at Gardner Middle School Auditorium, 333 Dahlia, Lansing, with The Rev. Anthony Patrick, Pastor of Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church. Masks will be required at the service. To view the livestream of the service, please click here (Facebook). Interment will follow in the Delta Hillside Cemetery. There will not be a public gathering following the Service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Richard J. Halik Scholarship Fund, c/o The Capital Region Community Foundation, 330 Marshall St., Lansing, MI 48912.
23 Messages to “Dr. Richard J. Halik, Ph.D. “Dick””
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Bruce McElmurray
December 12, 2021 at 8:18 pmCondolences to the family, Dick will be very much missed. Dick is my oldest and best friend for 75 years and I will miss him. Even though we lived a few thousand miles apart we managed to stay in touch all these years. Rest in peace my old and good friend.
Alycia McIntyre-Johnson & Family
December 12, 2021 at 9:17 pmHalik Family — We are so very sorry for your loss. You all and your families are in our hearts and minds. Emily, I hope you feel surrounded by much love and know we are sharing in your sadness. May our condolences bring you comfort and our prayers ease the pain of this great loss.
Dr. Ruby L. Helton
December 13, 2021 at 6:48 amCondolences to the family. Dr. Halik was one of the most compassionate individuals to have as a leader. He supported me during an illness and I will never forget. He allowed me time to heal and made it possible to keep all my sick days, for that I am grateful. May he Rest In Peace. Just know that God added a rose to his flower garden. “Rest in Peace, Dr. Halik and may God keep you in his arms”.
Susan Tabor
December 13, 2021 at 10:03 pmI am so sorry for your loss. You may not remember her, but my mother, Lou Anne Burtch, worked for Dick many years ago at the school district. They were friends for many years, even after Mom retired, and she always spoke so highly of him. She has been gone for a long time, but Dick and Nancy came to see her often when she was in a nursing home. He had a phenomenal career and leaves behind quite a legacy to the school district as well as the community. I’m sure he had many friends and he will certainly be missed. May God comfort you during
this sad time. Sincerely, Susan Burtch Tabor
Nancy
December 14, 2021 at 8:54 amBob and I, as well as all the Windjammer Point neighbors in Punta Gorda, FL were so sorry to hear about Dick’s death. We were expecting to see him here over the holidays. Our deep condolences to Emily and Dick’s family members and friends. He will be missed.
Pamela Martin
December 14, 2021 at 4:32 pmDear Emily,
I am saddened by your loss! I hope you have many good memories to warm your heart! I hope you have wonderful memories of the two of you laughing together.
Pam Martin
Joyce Michalak
December 14, 2021 at 6:08 pmI am so sorry for your loss. My love and prayers for your comfort. Grandpa Miller died on Dec 6,th Jackson’s birthday . 1981.
Adell Daly
December 14, 2021 at 8:30 pmI was lucky enough to grow up with Dr. Halik’s daughter, Molly. I knew him as her kind and patient dad and it never really clicked for me that he was also our superintendent until we were entering middle school. I had studied the Japanese language and culture at the Black Child & Family Institute for several years in elementary school and I wanted to keep learning in middle school. My dad asked Molly’s dad what we could do to get Japanese into Lansing’s middle schools. Well, they made it happen and it forever changed my life for the better. Dr. Halik will be greatly missed!!
Ricardo,Patricia Briones Family
December 14, 2021 at 8:31 pmDear Halik Family
All of us were so very sad to hear of the passing of your amazing father, grandpa and brother.
We were very happy to participate in the renaming of a school in his honor. We are especially grateful that he was not yet feeling ill.
He enjoyed the ceremony immensely and was so thrilled at he beautiful words that were spoken by all of us who appreciated him as an incredibly supportive boss.
I personally was thrilled to be able to thank him for having the insight to provide the opportunity for Dr.Rodriguez and I to chaperone 23 Lansing students to participate in an exchange program with our sister city in Guadalajara,Mexico.
We were also blessed that our families shared a friendship and have lovely memories of times spent together!
We love all of you and hope that you will continue to stay in touch!
Briones Family
Beth
December 15, 2021 at 8:37 amSarah,Kelly, Molly and families, We are Sending our loving thoughts and prayers. Andy and our family always appreciated your Father’s friendship. The our Carriage hill cal-de-sac won’t be the same without his smiling face and wonderful stories. When we moved In 22 years ago we with blessed by all of our wonderful neighbors especially Dad.
Love and Peace,
Beth and Andy Goeddeke’s
Ginny Sterling
December 15, 2021 at 10:34 amI worked for Dick in the early 70’s on a federally funded grant at LSD. The recollections I have of him are all positive – fair, even handed, interested, supportive, friendly. As I read the many memories shared by friends and co-workers, I can’t help but reflect – are these not the evidence of a life very well-lived? So many people thought so highly of him. I can only hope others will have similar reactions when my time comes.
Dr. Bereket (Barry) Habtemariam
December 15, 2021 at 11:57 amI am deeply saddened by the news of Dr. Richard Halik’s passing. I have known Dr. Halik since 1985, the year he was appointed Superintendent of the Lansing School District and a couple of years after I started working for the district as a substitute teacher. I had a chance to get in touch with him not very long ago via email thanks to Molly, his daughter and my former student who provided the address. He was gracious enough to reply.
Dr. Halik was gifted with amazing leadership qualities that enabled him to work and get along with everybody at the LSD, including the Board.
The length of time he served as a Superintendent (15 years) is testament to that. He was a GREAT educator as well as a very nice and friendly person. I will miss him dearly.
May the Almighty comfort the whole family and may he rest in peace.
Suzanne Marie Moore
December 15, 2021 at 12:54 pmTo the HalikFamily: I had Dr. Halik for a Teacher at Otto. May your cherished memories of this great man bring you comfort and may knowing that he is in God’s loving embrace give you peace.
Rich & Rosemary Dever
December 15, 2021 at 5:41 pmMay those beautiful yesterdays help to ease the sadness of today. In Deepest Sympathy.
John E. (Jack) Roberts
December 15, 2021 at 6:47 pmI have fond and grateful memories for Dick who welcomed me to the city and state in 1986 when I moved here from out of state to become the executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. His career in the Lansing Public Schools had earned him great credibility in the city and throughout the state, and his friendship and support gave me cover and a degree of credibility before I had earned it. Dick believed in the benefits of school-based sports (student-centered and educator-led), and in many ways, his years were the high water mark for educational athletics in Lansing schools. My sincere condolences to Dick’s family and closest friends.
Janet & K Remzi
December 16, 2021 at 9:01 amOur condolences to the Halik family. We were his neighbors at Windjammer Condos in Florida. He was a good neighbor, kind and generous. I know he will be missed.
Teri Fitzsimons
December 17, 2021 at 10:31 amEmily, I will miss seeing Dick and you and of course Chloe every other week when I came to clean, you both were such a blessing to me and I’m honored to be able to get to know you and pray for you and I believe that God will be your comfort and will bless you and Chloe all the days of your life, keep loving God and believing he is for you and has many good days for you, your friend always Teri Fitzsimons
Sherry Schmits
December 20, 2021 at 7:56 amSarah, Kelly, Molly and family, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your father and mother were beautiful people. I have missed your mom and now your dad. Dick was a customer from my barbershop, he and I would laugh so hard at times we had tears running down our cheeks. Nancy and I met not long after Dick became my customer. I have many fun memories of them. I will miss Dick, but I have a peace knowing he is now with our Lord Jesus Christ. You girls and your families are in my thoughts and prayers.
Greg Halik
December 21, 2021 at 2:14 pmIn honor of my very accomplished cousin Dick. He showed us how to do it and always expressed interest in how things were going with us. A specific memory was when we were kids, my Dad and older brother visited South Manitou Island, where he was the proprietor of the general store for the summer. He met us at the dock, gave us a tour of the island in a jeep, showed us a fishing spot, took us to the world record cedar and cooked us some steaks for dinner. Thanks Dick.
Nabila Boctor
December 21, 2021 at 9:38 pmIt is with deep sadness, we send our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Richard Halik’s precious family and friends. Having known Dr. Halik since 1997, he was an outstanding example of what we, as educators aspire to be both professionally and personally. Dr. Halik never ceased to support us in our goals as educators and in our dreams as individuals. He encouraged us every step of the way. Personally, no one could be a better friend, nor a more compassionate mentor. Dr. Halik treated us as though we were members of his family and in turn, he felt like a member of ours. He was a great man who will be greatly missed, but he will always be loved and remembered.
May our risen Lord Jesus Christ grant the family and all of us who admired and loved him, peace and comfort during this time. May He repose the soul of his beloved son Dr. Richard Halik in the heavenly Jerusalem.
With gratitude and Love,
Kamel and Nabila Boctor, and Mary Stewart
Sherrie M. Moody
January 3, 2022 at 3:55 pmIt is with great sadness, that the Charlotte Players and myself send our consolences to Dr. Halik’s family. As part of his winter family, we will miss his fabulous smile, great sense of humor, his wonderful stories as well as his insightfulness and suppport of our mission in the community.
We sincerely hope to meet more family members in the months ahead as you make decisions on his property in Florida. He would love to know that you have the opportunity to enjoy the area as much as he did.
Tim and Jean Compan
March 10, 2022 at 10:32 amTo our fellow “Night Owl” from Neola cruises and tours: Your spirit constantly inspires us to go beyond what we are capable of. Your friendship meant so much. You will be greatly missed
Mark A. Bates
March 11, 2022 at 11:28 amI was very sad to hear that Dick had passed. My family had the pleasure to be next door neighbors and we truly enjoyed his company when ever we had the opportunity sit and talk on his front porch or our back yard. I considered Dick to be a mentor to me and he was generous with his time and with sharing his experiences with public education management.
Family, please accept my most sincere condolences for your loss. He was a great person and the world has been a better place with him on it.