By the SNG History Committee
Meet Richard “Dick” Westby in one of his many historical costumes at the neighborhood King’s Fair in 1987. Born and raised in Seward, Dick Westby has a 60-year history of being everywhere at all Seward neighborhood events, as organizer and as attendee. He was one of the original founders of SNG, of the King’s Fairs, and many other neighborhood initiatives. He was head of the SNG History Committee from 2007 to 2024 and the moving force behind their history walks and talks and the publication of the book, “A People’s History of the Seward Neighborhood” in 2018.
He is now in hospice at Episcopal Homes, but he came home on May 10th to celebrate his wife Sandra’s 91st birthday. He enjoyed his garden and his family and once again marveled at the world outside their picture window: Matthews Park, a place that he helped bring into being that has given him joy and satisfaction for over 50 years.
Photo from HCLIB Seward Neighborhood Archives.