Richard B. McIntosh
Richard B. McIntosh was born October 13, 1942, to Robert and Peggy McIntosh in Denver, Colorado. He grew up in Lawndale, California with brother Bob and sister Janet and graduated from North Torrance High School in 1960. In 1963 he attended Lakewood First Baptist where he met his future wife, Barbara Lessley. Shortly after Rich and Barbara started dating, he was drafted and stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. They dated long distance for two years, became engaged in December 1965 and set a wedding date of April 2, 1966. Their plans were abruptly halted when Rich received word that he had cancer and needed surgery. He was only given a 10% chance of surviving for more than five years. Barbara flew up to be by his side for the successful surgery and they were married on April 30, 1966.
Rich and Barb settled in Long Beach, California where Rich began his college career at Long Beach City Jr. College. No one in his family had ever gone to college, and he was determined to accomplish that goal. In 1971 he graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a Bachelor of Arts in Art. That same summer Rich and Barbara welcomed their first child and bought their first house in Huntington Beach, California.
In 1972 Rich and Barb moved to Mission Viejo where they spent the next 30 years raising Brent (1971), Scott (1975) and Jill (1976). Rich got a job at Dana Hills High School Art Department in Dana Point, CA where he worked for several years. While teaching, he earned a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of San Francisco. He then left teaching and gave a try at real estate for several years, but he missed teaching and returned to the profession at Horizon Schools, helping troubled teens get their life back together. Eventually, he got his “dream job” at Creekside High School in Irvine. The young people there loved being in Mr. Mac’s ceramics class and would run all the way across a store yelling, “Mr. Mac! Mr. Mac!” rushing up to give him a big hug.
In 2005, Rich and Barb retired and moved to Susanville, California to be near their daughter and her family. Rich became a familiar face subbing at local schools, and would again hear “Mr. Mac, Mr. Mac” in the supermarket. Rich and Barb spent their summers camping in an RV at Lake Almanor, boating, and watching their grandkids tube and wakeboard. They continued to make many trips to Southern California.
Our hearts cannot imagine life without you – you are irreplaceable! We love you!
