Richard Randolph Schulze

Richard Randolph Schulze

Dick Schulze died peacefully at home on January 5, 2025 at the age of 90.

Dick was born in Charlottesville, Virginia on December 9, 1934.  He led an extraordinary life full of adventure and accomplishment.

He majored in biology at Princeton University prior to attending Johns Hopkins for medical school, internship, and his residency in ophthalmology.  Post residency at the Wilmer Institute, he went to Moorfields Eye Hospital, the world’s preeminent training facility for ophthalmology, in London, England for a year’s fellowship in ocular pathology.  It was at this time in England that he became a devoted Anglophile.

After the completion of his training, Dick moved to Savannah in 1966 to start his career in the private practice of ophthalmology, which he carried on for 45 years until his retirement in 2010.  In a time of rapidly evolving technology, he was consistently at the forefront of innovation in cataract surgery.  A brilliant surgeon, he was the first in Georgia to perform phacoemulsification for cataract surgery and the first Georgia surgeon to implant an intraocular lens.  These technologies were at first highly controversial, but he had the courage to follow his convictions, and over time, these advances proved to be revolutionary, allowing patients to recover better vision as compared to previous techniques. Over his career he performed tens of thousands of surgeries and improved the lives of countless patients.

An avid sportsman, Dick loved the outdoors and was fortunate to acquire two plantations in the South Carolina Lowcountry.  At Turnbridge Plantation, anticipating the locavore movement by several decades, he reintroduced Carolina Gold rice to great acclaim in 1985.  At Hoover Plantation, his training in biology prepared him well to manage thousands of acres of piney woods and fields for dove and quail hunting.  He traveled the world pursuing his passion for bird hunting.  Other interests included vintage race cars and high performance boats.  He raced the Mille Miglia in Italy several times in his beloved 1935 Aston Martin Ulster.  His affection for his canine friends was legendary and he had a series of golden retrievers and spaniels who were his constant companions.

His intelligence, joie de vivre, and keen sense of humor were infectious to all who knew him.  He was a beloved husband and is survived by his loving wife Tricia, his daughter Catherine Carrigan, son Richard (Donna), granddaughter Sarah Jane, his stepchildren Joseph (Sara) and Melissa, as well as his dearest canine friend Scotia.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11:00 am, at Greenwich Cemetery section of Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Humane Society.

Hilton Head Humane Association
P.O. Box 21790, Hilton Head Island SC 29925
Web: http://www.hhhumane.org/?page_id=603