Richard Louis Tallman

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Richard L. Tallman, a devoted husband and father, and esteemed physical chemist. He departed this world on October 26, 2023, due to natural causes, at the age of 92.

He was the son of Louis Raymond Tallman and Beatrice Mae Knauss Tallman, born April 24, 1931, in Wheeling, West Virginia. From an early age, Dick displayed an inherent curiosity and enthusiasm for understanding the natural world. This led him to pursue a life of academic excellence, at the same time becoming a skilled diver, tennis player, and golfer. Dick attended Triadelphia High School where he was the yearbook and newspaper editor and student council president, as well as competing on the swimming and golf teams. He graduated with honors and an academic scholarship to Kenyon College. At Kenyon he studied Chemistry and English, lettered in collegiate diving and led the team, was inducted into the prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, and earned a fellowship to the University of Wisconsin in the Physical Chemistry doctoral program.

Dick was a brother in the Alpha Chi Sigma chemistry fraternity. It was at UW-Madison that Dick met the love of his life, Joan Dilys Lacey. Dick and Joan were married in 1956, after she graduated, then lived off campus in Madison while Dick continued to finalize research details for his doctoral degree.

Dick and Joan would soon start a family; their oldest daughter, Lisa, was born in 1958 in Madison, Wisconsin. Then, just as Dick completed his doctoral degree and began work with Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they welcomed their second daughter, Lynn.

With Westinghouse, Dick conducted groundbreaking research, garnered patents, and wrote numerous papers regularly cited in his field. Pittsburgh became the "hometown" of the Tallmans. Dick shared his love of nature and outdoor activities with his family, regularly swimming, canoeing, figure skating, exploring parks, and traveling to spend time with family throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Dick was rafting the Monongahela River when his third daughter, Jane, made an early arrival, rounding out the family.

In 1973, Dick and family moved to Royal Oak, Michigan, where he worked for General Motors in corrosion prevention research and development. There, his older daughters completed high school and followed in his achievements, earning full-ride scholarships to college. Dick then moved with his wife and youngest daughter to Idaho Falls, Idaho, in 1977 to take a Research Chemist position at INEL working on ceramics for hazardous waste storage.

Beyond professional accomplishments, the move to Idaho provided endless opportunities to explore and enjoy seasonal outdoor activities. Dick and his wife took their daughters on many extended summer camping and hiking trips to state and national parks throughout the Western U.S. and Canada. Long weekend trips to Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park were common, as were day trips to Market Lake for birding or for ice skating in the winter and Harriman Park to cross-country ski. Dick taught his youngest to downhill ski at Targhee, and soon the whole family enjoyed tram skiing at Teton Village in Jackson Hole.

As a lover and supporter of the arts, Dick volunteered promoting the Idaho Falls Symphony and Idaho Falls Opera Theater, which his wife founded and regularly performed in. Far from one-dimensional, Dick might regale you with a campy tune or limerick from the mid-20th century, and appreciated music from bluegrass to baroque.

Dick's genuine curiosity allowed him to readily connect with people through conversation and his neighborly demeanor. If you live in Idaho Falls and you know about the river running north in Pittsburgh, you have probably met Dick Tallman! After retiring, he continued playing tennis, distance road biking, skiing, and figure skating which he taught for several years.

Dick Tallman was a loving, witty, amiable, and gifted man that worked hard to provide for his family. He happily sought adventure in and appreciated our natural world, and passed that on to his children and grandchildren. He will be missed and fondly remembered.

Richard is survived by his wife, Joan Tallman, of Idaho Falls, ID; daughters, Lynn (Michael) Furr, of Morehead City, NC, and Jane Tallman of Key West, FL; and 3 grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Beatrice Tallman; daughter, Lisa Helmle; and sister, Beverly Healy.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com