Moving steadily westward in life

Elia Powers

It was Richard Kissinger’s lifelong dream to live near the ocean. He

had close encounters during vacations in Southern California and

summers spent taking classes in Westwood.

But Kissinger was far from that dream as a youngster in Cedar

Falls, Iowa. Besides, he had more attainable goals in mind, such as

mastering the piano and landing a teaching job.

A celebrated musician and instructor, Kissinger died April 20 of

lymphoma. The Corona del Mar resident was 77.

Kissinger overcame polio in the late 1940s. He went on to receive

a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in music education from

universities in Iowa.

He began his teaching career at a junior high school in Iowa.

There, he met his future wife, Opal, who was a social studies

teacher.

Richard Kissinger taught vocal music classes, tutored students and

helped direct school musicals such as “Bye Bye Birdie” and

“Oklahoma.”

“Those were two of his favorites,” Opal Kissinger said. “He loved

all types of music and music programs.”

The two were married in 1960, and they moved to California three

years later, when Richard Kissinger accepted a job teaching music in

the newly formed Orange Unified School District.

“We were both very happy about his job and anxious to start our

new life out here,” Opal Kissinger said.

The Kissingers befriended many of the teachers who’d relocated to

help form new school districts in Orange County. They also reunited

with old friends, such as Bill Cass, a teacher who had taught across

the hall from Richard Kissinger in Iowa.

Cass remembers Richard Kissinger as an easy-going person who was

popular with students.

“He was an excellent teacher and a great piano player,” Cass said.

“He would put on big shows. When he played, he started with the

classical stuff, but I’d tell him to boogie woogie it up on the

piano.”

Richard and Opal spent the first few years in Orange County

traveling to the tourist sites -- Disneyland, Catalina, Magic

Mountain. They bought partial season tickets for the Angels, Opal’s

favorite sports team.

Newport Beach resident Bob Paulson met Richard Kissinger each

Monday for breakfast.

“I enjoyed spending time with him,” Paulson said. “I liked to tell

him about trips with a young school teacher who went to Europe.

“He liked sharing stories with me.”

Kissinger taught at the now defunct Peralta Junior High in Orange.

The couple lived in Orange, only 15 miles from the ocean.

But he wasn’t on the water yet. So he collected nautical

paraphernalia instead, amassing a sizable inventory of model ships.

He took bicycle rides with friends, just feet from the Pacific Ocean,

and imagined himself living in the homes he passed.

Kissinger spent 21 years at the same school, and he retired in

1984.

And two years later, Kissinger’s dream came true.

“He was very happy he finally got to live by the water,” Opal

Kissinger said.