by Ralph Nichols

Sixty-four hundred miles – the distance from Sea-Tac International Airport to Santiago, Chile – is a long way. It’s a lot farther still if you’re here and have immediate family members in earthquake-ravaged Chile.

Patricio Mendoza, the owner of EC Computers in downtown Des Moines, knows this all too well.

For almost 48 hours after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Chile on Feb. 27, Mendoza could only wonder how his son Victor, his father Humbetor, his sister Cecilia, and his niece Erika Cecilia (who lives in the Seattle area, and whose initials give the computer shop its name) had survived.

Communications with the outside world are difficult with widespread power outages and many of the country’s cell phone towers knocked down. Mendoza has since been told the tremor “was so big,” and “lasted so long and was so strong.”

Despite his anxiety, he hoped and prayed for the best – and waited for their calls.

Then late Sunday and again on Monday he finally heard from his niece and his sister. Both were well – and they had word that Victor, who lives near Viña del Mar, a seaside community of almost 300,000 where Mendoza is from, was OK too.

But there was nothing like hearing his son confirm this himself when, at last, Victor called him Tuesday evening.

These reports brought welcome news because “at first I thought the worst,” Mendoza said. “This was one of the biggest earthquakes we have ever had. The destruction is total. It’s all around.”

Mendoza is still waiting for word about his 80-year-old father Humbetor, who he assumes is OK but who lives where power remains out.

In an irony of timing, Mendoza returned only a month ago from a six-week trip to his home town, which is not far from Santiago, the nation’s capital, and an extended visit with his relatives who live in that region.

He also accompanied his niece there. Cecilia, 19, had “worked for the last year to pay for her dream trip to Chile,” he told the B-Town Blog this week.

“She was supposed to get back to the states on March 1. Her flight was scheduled for Feb. 28.” But with canceled flights and possible damage to airport runways, “she’s still stuck down there.” If everything goes all right, he said, she now should return on March 9.

Cecilia sounded much calmer than she did in her first call just a couple of days after the quake, which continues to be followed by strong aftershocks, he added.

Mendoza’s first reaction after hearing about the earthquake was, “I want to get a ticket and go there. The first thing I wanted to do is help my family. But the airlines have raised the ticket price four times or more for this tragedy.

“I still plan to go when the price goes back down. I can’t afford it now. I want to see how my father is doing and how my son is doing. I want to see my father personally because he’s 80 years old and alone. I know he will say he’s OK, but I still want to know.

“It’s pretty bad to be this far away and not be able to go down and help,” he said.

And after helping his family, Mendoza also wants to do what he can – including taking clothing and other necessities – to help others there who are trying to rebuild their lives and property.

“People are hungry, people are upset. I’ve been in strong earthquakes where aftershocks continue for days. You feel so little after that. You cannot sleep in the day. You cannot sleep at night. You have no peace. It takes weeks to recover.”

Mendoza said that although he’s not there now, “at least I can bring some of the resources they need to them” if he can find a way to get there.

“A lot of people from Des Moines have called or stopped by the shop, concerned about my niece and my family,” he continued. “I thank all of you for your moral support. It has really helped.”

On Dec. 31st, we reported that Burien resident and businessman Jason Sanders (of Seahurst espresso stand “The Bean”) had been “moderately” injured in a head-on collision in California, suffering from a broken pelvis.

Jason may be coming home very soon, and Wednesday we received word from Robin Dunkle of BTB Advertiser Howard and Marge about a unique way to help him – she’s spearheading a “meal list” where volunteers can sign-up to make meals for him as he continues his recuperation with his father at home.

According to Robin:

So, word has it, Jason comes home this week.

We are getting our heads together and doing a weekly meal list.

Jason’s father will be here taking care of him so we are putting together a sign-up sheet to provide daily meals for Jason and his father over the next months.

If this sounds of interest to you and you would like to help out, please email Robin Dunkle @ howardandmarge@comcast.net.

I can email you the sign up list.

Jason will soooo appreciate this!  Thanks Burien!!

So, you heard the request – now it’s time to answer the call and help your neighbor…

Just a reminder that the memorial service for Dick “Mr. Burien” Dahlgard will be held Saturday, Nov. 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166 (map below).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:

Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video of tributes and memories of Dick from some of his peers:

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Richard “Dick” Dennis Dahlgard passed away Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 in his home in Burien, WA.

He was 73.

Dick was born in Pierre, SD, the first son of Dennis and Hazel, the oldest of four.  They moved to Seattle in 1942 where Dick attended Sunnydale Elementary and Highline High School and graduated in 1954.  Following high school he went to work for Tall’s Camera and the Washington State Patrol. In 1958, Dick joined the Army as a cryptographer where he served in Hawaii and the Pentagon.

Following his military service he moved to Seattle and worked for Tall’s Camera.  In 1969 he opened Dick’s Camera and Sound which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2006.

He is well known among the community for donating his time and talents as a photographer.  He was an avid philanthropist and over the years dedicated his time to the Highline Historical Society, Highline Medical Center Foundation, the Hi-Liners, Discover Burien, and Merchants of Burien. He was an active member of the Burien-White Center Rotary for over 46 years.

He is survived by his son Nels Dahlgard of San Diego, daughters Cathy Chambers of Newport Beach, CA, Julie Faugeroux of Portland, OR, and Paige Dahlgard of Seattle, WA, sister Karen Dahlgard of Kirkland, WA, brother Daryl Dahlgard of La Conner, WA, and sister Kristin Galante of Mukilteo, WA.

He will be forever missed and loved.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:

Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166

To view a special video with memories of Dick, click here.

Below are some comments we’ve received from Readers:

Knew Dick for over 50 years.  Friend at Highline Hich,  co-community worker through Burien Chamber of Commerce, Highline Community Hospital Foundation Board, 4th of July Parade, Miss Burien Scholarship Pageant, Political volunteer, but most of all a shared love of Burien and young people.  He was truly a giver and he gave out of a sincerely giving heart.  Never expecting or wanting anything back.  I draw comfort knowing I’ll see him again at a much bigger reunion.

- Joan Dehn

Story and Video by Janet Grella

With the passing of Dick Dahlgard on Wednesday, Nov. 5th, Burien has lost one of its most passionate supporters. So passionate in fact, that he was often referred to as “Mr. Burien.”

While working in sales at the Highline Times, I passed many informative hours sitting in Dick’s very cluttered office at Dick’s Camera and Video on First Avenue in Burien. He’d share Burien’s history and historical artifacts with me and tell me endless stories about the old days. Like most people in Burien, I bought my first camera from Dick (I was over 50, and it was a digital!).

And like most people in Burien, I considered Dick Dahlgard a friend.

As a 1954 graduate of Highline High School, Dick was a treasure-trove of information about the school and area.  When we last spoke, he was busy planning the 55th Reunion of the class of ‘54 which will take place next summer. The only time he was away from Burien was while he was in the service after high school.  He was proud of his kids and their service to our country. Daughter Paige served in the Washington Army National Guard in Baghdad, Iraq, while son Nels is a Marine currently stationed in California.

Among many venues of community service, Dick was the official photographer and promoter of The Hi-Liners from its very beginning; a board member of Discover Burien and past president of Merchants of Burien; and a board member and volunteer of The Highline Historical Society.

He was always proud of his 46-year association with Rotary International, especially the Burien/White Center chapter that meets every Thursday at 12 noon at Angelo’s of Burien. He was so devoted that he never missed a meeting in his entire 46 years.

Wanting to pay tribute to Dick, I caught up with a few local Rotarians Thursday prior to this week’s meeting, tragically the first missed by Dick in 46 years.  Many members were just hearing about his passing when they entered the weekly gathering.

We at the BTB cannot put into words what Dick Dahlgard meant to this community. Here’s what some of his fellow Rotarians and a few community leaders had to say about Dick:

If you’d like to share your thoughts on Dick, please do so in our Comments section below.

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