Richard Giusti
07/15/1958 – 08/20/2024
Our beloved Rick passed away three months ago. We miss him so very much, especially now as RenFest is taking place. He loved this festival, and attended every weekend in November, dressed as a warrior, as in the photo, or as a knight in full armor, which included chain mail he crafted himself. He was always cheerfully willing to pose for photos with young ones, and the not so young as well.
Richard Edward Giusti was born on July 15, 1958 to Millie Kesel Giusti and Benedict Paul Giusti in Galveston, Texas. He attended college at Rice University and the University of Houston, where he received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked for 34 years as an engineer and programmer contracted to NASA, where he met Kathleen Poe, whom he married in 2004. He worked at Johnson Space Center’s Building 5 flight training facility where he created and refined the computer models used to train astronauts and flight controllers for the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station programs. Rick’s career was marked by admiration and respect from his coworkers and recognition for excellence by the astronauts, as he was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award for outstanding achievement related to flight success.
Reading was a passion for Rick, and he loved science fiction, fantasy and medieval history.
Rick had 36 nieces and nephews. He was a fun uncle, who tossed them in the air when they were small and became a friend and role model as they grew older.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Millie Kesel Giusti and Benedict Paul Giusti, his in-laws, Marian Ruth Poe and John William Poe, and his brother, Benedict Paul Giusti Jr. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Poe Giusti, his sisters Sandra Atkinson (Denis), Beverly Rose, Barbara Doran (Chuck), Paulette Maddox (Bobby), Marilyn Cernosek (Tony), Cathy Perry (Jerry), Gigi Rose (Gary), Debbie Morgan, Janet Elledge (Paul) and Carolyn Bernard (Karl); brothers-in-law John Poe, Jr., and David Poe (Peggy); sister-in-law Barbara Poe Graves (Neil); many cherished friends; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
The family is so thankful for the many caregivers and therapists who helped with Rick’s care during his long illness. We are especially grateful to Margie Shipp and Sam Henderson, for their TLC and friendship.
Published by Houston Chronicle on Nov. 20, 2024.
In Memoriam