Rick Sevra, 68, passed away at home Feb. 18.
He was born in Long Beach, Cal. to Stan and Celeste Sevra. Soon after his birth the family moved back to the Kansas City area where Rick and his siblings were raised. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East and was an alumnus of Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn.
After college, he was accepted into Tufts University School of Diplomacy (with an eye on state department work). Instead life routed him to the Minnesota State Senate where he worked as a research analyst, often focusing on social justice issues concerning the state’s prison system. He returned to the Kansas City area in the early 80s to work with his father in the family mortgage business and he was president of Mid-Continent Investments of Kansas at the time of his death.
For many years Rick and Parry enjoyed their summer home in coastal Maine in New Harbor where he was an accomplished sea kayaker and where both enjoyed all that Maine has to offer.
To those who love him, the greatest loss will be his strong sense of loyalty – and his wit. He was, in the truest sense, the consummate gentleman.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 32 years, Parry Hagen Sevra; sister, Sue Mackenzie and her daughters, Becca Bowen and Brooke Johnson and their families; brother, Robert Sevra and wife Rita Gardner; many in-laws, nieces and nephews on Parry’s side; K-9 kids, Jinx and Cosmo; and many, many friends.
A private gathering for family and friends to celebrate Rick’s life will be held at a later date.
Please, no flowers. For those who wish to honor Rick, please consider a donation to Amethyst Place, a Kansas City organization providing services for women and children (specific info at amethystplace.org); or a donation to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) who work tirelessly to defend individual rights and liberties. ACLU donations may be mailed to ACLU – Gift Dept., 125 Broad Street, NY, NY 10004.
