Richard "Dick" J. Giorgis

A recitation of the rosary for Richard J “Dick” Giorgis, 87, of Coos Bay will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 5, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic
Church, 2250 16th St. in North Bend with Father Paschal Ezurike, officiating. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Cremation rites have been held at Ocean View Memory Gardens in Coos Bay where he will also be laid to rest.

Dick was born in Belle Knife Hospital, in Coquille, Oregon, the son of Antonio P. Giorgis and Mary P (Ferraris) Giorgis. He died June 9, 2025, at Sacred Heart Hospital at Riverbend in
Springfield after a lengthy illness.

Dick graduated from Coquille High School in 1955 and enlisted with the US Navy. He served on the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 aircraft carrier as an ordinance specialist. Dick developed a passion for law enforcement in the Navy serving as an SP (Shore Patrol) officer wherever the Bon Homme docked in ports of call. On June 29, 1957, Dick married Mary Jo (Sawtelle) Giorgis while stationed at Moffett Field in San Jose, California. After his discharge, they moved back to Coquille as he started working at Cedar Point Mill.

In 1962 Dick fulfilled his dream of working in law enforcement joining the Empire City Police Department. He joined the Coos Bay Police Department two years later. In 1967, now a sergeant with the police force, Dick accepted a deputy sheriff position for Coos County. Serving under Sheriff Charles M Strawn, until 1973 accepting the assistant chief of police position for the City of Myrtle Point. A side note, in 1969, Dick and his wife Mary Jo designed the “jumping trout” logo for the Coos County Sheriff’s Dept with the Blessing of Sheriff Strawn. The image has undergone some cosmetic changes over the years but is still being used today.

Summer 1975 Dick became the head of security for school district 9 at Marshfield High School where he worked until his retirement. Dick was passionate working with youth and was instrumental with the startup of the D.A.R.E. program in conjunction with the Coos Bay Police Dept. Over these years, Dick also found time to transport Pirate athletic and rally teams to their matches. Dick also coached the Pirate Golf team briefly. In the mid-eighties Dick took over the reins of the school’s British Exchange program from retiring teacher, Joy Meacham. Dick and Mary Jo chaperoned MHS Students to England multiple summers for reciprocal visits after coordinating host families for the British students as they visited Coos Bay during their Easter breaks. Dick managed to return to MHS time to time after his “retirement.”

Retiring for good, Dick and Mary Jo started to enjoy traveling full time, especially in their RV, scheduling and enjoying trips to Portland, Reno, Las Vegas, Montana, Arizona, Texas and
Alabama. Dick enjoyed playing golf, bowling and deep-sea fishing, especially with his brother, Robert. Dick also loved clamming and crabbing buying his own boat to crab away from the docks.

Dick loved Coos County and was away from the county only during his tenure with the Navy. He was very proud of our county, looking forward to every Monday morning volunteering at the Coos Bay information center to share the history and things to see and do in the area. Dick belonged to the American Legion, VFW, Eagles and was a 60-year member of the Coos Bay Elks Lodge. Dick and Mary Jo also purchased and operated a Coos Bay motel in 1967, selling it in 1978.

Dick is also survived by son and daughter-in- law, Stephen and Kimberley Giorgis of North Bend; son-in-law, Kevin Williams of Grants Pass; grandsons, Jordan Torst and his wife, Teresa of Reedsport, John Williams of Milwaukie; granddaughters, Gabrielle and her husband, Justin Mast and their sons, Asher and Rogue of North Bend, Victoria and husband Sean Hamilton of North Bend, Missy Smith of Portland; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins as well as many, many dear friends too numerous to list!

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 54 years, Mary Jo, who passed in 2011; daughter, Angel who passed in 2017; brother and sister-in-Law, Robert and Phyllis Giorgis; and granddaughter, Brittney Torst, who passed in 2005.

Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel, 541-267-3131. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com

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