BACKUS, Arthur Richard
Superior Court judge, retired
Sacramento resident for 50 years, "Dick" was born on September 18, 1925, in Detroit, Mich.; died on December 10, 2008, in Sacramento. Dick gracefully battled Alzheimer's disease in his last years and left us peacefully, surrounded by wife and children.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Thelma Backus and his brother Ross of Florida and sister Marilyn Cook of Santa Rosa. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dodie, his daughters Susan and Sarah of Taos, N.M., and son Robert of Los Angeles; grandchildren Adeliza Pace, Daniil Norbeck and Elena Herrera, all of Taos; sisters Debbie and Cyndy; nephews Alan and Ross; niece Pam; and sister-in-law Jean.
He graduated from the Edison Institute In Dearborn, Mich., in 1943 and went into U.S. Army Officer training at the University of Wisconsin.
When the war in Germany bogged down, the officer training ceased. Dick and the other officer candidates, were sent to Germany as foot soldiers in the Blackhawk Division of the Infantry. Dick served for the last three months of the war in Germany and was awarded the bronze star for bravery. He was at sea heading for the invasion of Japan when the war abruptly ended. He then served in the Philippines between 1945 and 1946.
After his discharge from the army he entered Albion College and then went to the University of Michigan School of Law. He practiced law in Detroit and Port Huron before moving to Sacramento where he practiced law for 20 years. He was appointed to the bench in 1978 and retired in 1993.
Dick served as chairman of the County Planning Commission, president of the Estate Planning Council, president of the Mt. Ralston Fish Planting Club and as a member of both the Sacramento & California Bar Associations. He was long time supporter of the American River Parkway, Sarah Court and the Save the American River Association. He was charter a member of both KVIE and the American River Natural History Association, and a member of the Nature Conservancy, Sacramento Library Foundation and numerous other organizations.
Known for his loving heart and sense of humor, Dick loved his extended family and valued his many friends and court associates. A true nature enthusiast, some of his happiest moments were spent fly fishing, bird watching, hiking, backpacking and duck hunting. He and Dodie enjoyed spending time in Taos and at the family cabin in Strawberry, walking and biking the Parkway and traveling the world.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 4:00 p.m. at the Campus Commons Clubhouse, 650 Commons Dr., Sacramento, Calif. 95825. Donations in his memory may be made to the American River Parkway Foundation, 5700 Arden Way, Carmichael, Calif., 95608.
Thank you to member #47039629 for links to parents
Superior Court judge, retired
Sacramento resident for 50 years, "Dick" was born on September 18, 1925, in Detroit, Mich.; died on December 10, 2008, in Sacramento. Dick gracefully battled Alzheimer's disease in his last years and left us peacefully, surrounded by wife and children.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Thelma Backus and his brother Ross of Florida and sister Marilyn Cook of Santa Rosa. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dodie, his daughters Susan and Sarah of Taos, N.M., and son Robert of Los Angeles; grandchildren Adeliza Pace, Daniil Norbeck and Elena Herrera, all of Taos; sisters Debbie and Cyndy; nephews Alan and Ross; niece Pam; and sister-in-law Jean.
He graduated from the Edison Institute In Dearborn, Mich., in 1943 and went into U.S. Army Officer training at the University of Wisconsin.
When the war in Germany bogged down, the officer training ceased. Dick and the other officer candidates, were sent to Germany as foot soldiers in the Blackhawk Division of the Infantry. Dick served for the last three months of the war in Germany and was awarded the bronze star for bravery. He was at sea heading for the invasion of Japan when the war abruptly ended. He then served in the Philippines between 1945 and 1946.
After his discharge from the army he entered Albion College and then went to the University of Michigan School of Law. He practiced law in Detroit and Port Huron before moving to Sacramento where he practiced law for 20 years. He was appointed to the bench in 1978 and retired in 1993.
Dick served as chairman of the County Planning Commission, president of the Estate Planning Council, president of the Mt. Ralston Fish Planting Club and as a member of both the Sacramento & California Bar Associations. He was long time supporter of the American River Parkway, Sarah Court and the Save the American River Association. He was charter a member of both KVIE and the American River Natural History Association, and a member of the Nature Conservancy, Sacramento Library Foundation and numerous other organizations.
Known for his loving heart and sense of humor, Dick loved his extended family and valued his many friends and court associates. A true nature enthusiast, some of his happiest moments were spent fly fishing, bird watching, hiking, backpacking and duck hunting. He and Dodie enjoyed spending time in Taos and at the family cabin in Strawberry, walking and biking the Parkway and traveling the world.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 4:00 p.m. at the Campus Commons Clubhouse, 650 Commons Dr., Sacramento, Calif. 95825. Donations in his memory may be made to the American River Parkway Foundation, 5700 Arden Way, Carmichael, Calif., 95608.
Thank you to member #47039629 for links to parents
BACKUS, Arthur Richard
Superior Court judge, retired
Sacramento resident for 50 years, "Dick" was born on September 18, 1925, in Detroit, Mich.; died on December 10, 2008, in Sacramento. Dick gracefully battled Alzheimer's disease in his last years and left us peacefully, surrounded by wife and children.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Thelma Backus and his brother Ross of Florida and sister Marilyn Cook of Santa Rosa. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dodie, his daughters Susan and Sarah of Taos, N.M., and son Robert of Los Angeles; grandchildren Adeliza Pace, Daniil Norbeck and Elena Herrera, all of Taos; sisters Debbie and Cyndy; nephews Alan and Ross; niece Pam; and sister-in-law Jean.
He graduated from the Edison Institute In Dearborn, Mich., in 1943 and went into U.S. Army Officer training at the University of Wisconsin.
When the war in Germany bogged down, the officer training ceased. Dick and the other officer candidates, were sent to Germany as foot soldiers in the Blackhawk Division of the Infantry. Dick served for the last three months of the war in Germany and was awarded the bronze star for bravery. He was at sea heading for the invasion of Japan when the war abruptly ended. He then served in the Philippines between 1945 and 1946.
After his discharge from the army he entered Albion College and then went to the University of Michigan School of Law. He practiced law in Detroit and Port Huron before moving to Sacramento where he practiced law for 20 years. He was appointed to the bench in 1978 and retired in 1993.
Dick served as chairman of the County Planning Commission, president of the Estate Planning Council, president of the Mt. Ralston Fish Planting Club and as a member of both the Sacramento & California Bar Associations. He was long time supporter of the American River Parkway, Sarah Court and the Save the American River Association. He was charter a member of both KVIE and the American River Natural History Association, and a member of the Nature Conservancy, Sacramento Library Foundation and numerous other organizations.
Known for his loving heart and sense of humor, Dick loved his extended family and valued his many friends and court associates. A true nature enthusiast, some of his happiest moments were spent fly fishing, bird watching, hiking, backpacking and duck hunting. He and Dodie enjoyed spending time in Taos and at the family cabin in Strawberry, walking and biking the Parkway and traveling the world.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 4:00 p.m. at the Campus Commons Clubhouse, 650 Commons Dr., Sacramento, Calif. 95825. Donations in his memory may be made to the American River Parkway Foundation, 5700 Arden Way, Carmichael, Calif., 95608.
Thank you to member #47039629 for links to parents
Superior Court judge, retired
Sacramento resident for 50 years, "Dick" was born on September 18, 1925, in Detroit, Mich.; died on December 10, 2008, in Sacramento. Dick gracefully battled Alzheimer's disease in his last years and left us peacefully, surrounded by wife and children.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Thelma Backus and his brother Ross of Florida and sister Marilyn Cook of Santa Rosa. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dodie, his daughters Susan and Sarah of Taos, N.M., and son Robert of Los Angeles; grandchildren Adeliza Pace, Daniil Norbeck and Elena Herrera, all of Taos; sisters Debbie and Cyndy; nephews Alan and Ross; niece Pam; and sister-in-law Jean.
He graduated from the Edison Institute In Dearborn, Mich., in 1943 and went into U.S. Army Officer training at the University of Wisconsin.
When the war in Germany bogged down, the officer training ceased. Dick and the other officer candidates, were sent to Germany as foot soldiers in the Blackhawk Division of the Infantry. Dick served for the last three months of the war in Germany and was awarded the bronze star for bravery. He was at sea heading for the invasion of Japan when the war abruptly ended. He then served in the Philippines between 1945 and 1946.
After his discharge from the army he entered Albion College and then went to the University of Michigan School of Law. He practiced law in Detroit and Port Huron before moving to Sacramento where he practiced law for 20 years. He was appointed to the bench in 1978 and retired in 1993.
Dick served as chairman of the County Planning Commission, president of the Estate Planning Council, president of the Mt. Ralston Fish Planting Club and as a member of both the Sacramento & California Bar Associations. He was long time supporter of the American River Parkway, Sarah Court and the Save the American River Association. He was charter a member of both KVIE and the American River Natural History Association, and a member of the Nature Conservancy, Sacramento Library Foundation and numerous other organizations.
Known for his loving heart and sense of humor, Dick loved his extended family and valued his many friends and court associates. A true nature enthusiast, some of his happiest moments were spent fly fishing, bird watching, hiking, backpacking and duck hunting. He and Dodie enjoyed spending time in Taos and at the family cabin in Strawberry, walking and biking the Parkway and traveling the world.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 4:00 p.m. at the Campus Commons Clubhouse, 650 Commons Dr., Sacramento, Calif. 95825. Donations in his memory may be made to the American River Parkway Foundation, 5700 Arden Way, Carmichael, Calif., 95608.
Thank you to member #47039629 for links to parents
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