Richard "Dick" Carl Laufer

Richard “Dick” Carl Laufer

Dick Laufer, age 76 of Mechanicsburg, died on the morning of January 8, 2022 after a brief illness.

Born on January 18, 1945 and raised in the state of Indiana, Dick was the only child of the late Eva Marie Deibert and Carl Laufer and grew up in the company of many cousins.  As a youth, he worked at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and often shared tales of the people he met, the crazy (and hazardous) work environment, and once, riding his Indian motorcycle around the track.

Dick graduated from Ben Davis High School and attended Indiana University.

A great storyteller, Dick loved to laugh, enjoyed amusement parks and roller coasters, and liked listening to music and musical theatre.  He was an avid puzzler who relished summer days on the porch, and he had a palate for good food, fine wine, Eagle Rare bourbon, and a well-crafted Bloody Mary.

Dick had many careers, retiring from the PA Chamber of Business and Industry in 2011.  He was a great tinkerer and could repair nearly anything.  As an accomplished sailor, he chartered sail boats and traversed the entire Chesapeake Bay.  He was also a skilled leather craftsman; it was his work as a Tandy Leather store manager that brought him to Central PA via Michigan and Connecticut.

Dick was a 32 degree Freemason, Murat Shriner, and member of the Mechanicsburg Club.

Dick was a father, grandfather, husband, lover and terrific friend to many.  He loved the women in his life unconditionally:  his daughter who preceded him in death in 2017, Tracy Parry (Dave); his daughter Kristina Brittain (Keith); and his partner of 30 years/wife of 14, Holly Rider Laufer.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Josh, Dylan, Jack and Ella, of whom he was quite proud.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Dick with your memorial contribution to Shriners Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA  19140, www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/philadelphia/ways-to-give; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN  38105, www.stjude.org/donate.  Dick could not abide the suffering of children; it is his hope that your gift will help alleviate some of that.

Dick’s family will be remembering his life privately and at the convenience of the family.  Cremation was private.

Dick’s family has entrusted his care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Dick’s full obituary, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign his official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.