Richard Lockwood 'Dick' Sodorff, 87
Richard Lockwood “Dick” Sodorff, 87, longtime principal at Sandpoint Senior High, passed away on Sunday, Aug, 2, 2009, in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at the Sandpoint Events Center on the corner of Pine and Euclid with Paul Graves officiating followed by military honors. Interment will be held at a later date at the Lakeview Cemetery Niche Wall.
Dick was born on Jan. 31, 1922, in Moscow, Idaho, to Harold and Olive Sodorff. He grew up excelling in athletics, graduating from Moscow High School in 1939 and attended the University of Idaho on a basketball scholarship.
He also participated in the ROTC program and was called to duty in 1944. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after being wounded in the European Theater. He received several decorations for his service, including the Purple Heart.
Dick returned to the University of Idaho to complete his education.
On Aug. 4, 1946, he married Claire Evelyn Becker of Spokane, Wash. In 1948 Mr. Sodorff began teaching and coaching at Priest River High School.
He began his administrative career in 1955 in Sandpoint, where he served as principal at Southside School and Washington Elementary.
Dick served as the principal at Sandpoint Senior High for 21 years retiring in 1981. His professional accomplishments were many. He was a member of the Idaho State Com-mittee of the Northwest Associa-tion of Schools and Colleges for 11 years as Chairman of Special Schools in seven states. He was honored to be chosen as a member of the Idaho Hall of Fame for school activities. He was a lifetime member of Bulldog Bench and Sandpoint Elks Club.
In retirement Mr. Sodorff started the SHS Alumni and Friends Scholarship Fund which donated more than $80,000 to all school departments over a period of 20 years.
He filled in as high school principal in 1990.
He also occasionally drove the athletics team in the silver eagle bus to out-of-town school events.
Dick enjoyed sports such as boating, golfing and fishing, and in his younger days, was quite good at pitching horseshoes and softball. History was his favorite subject.
He is survived by his wife Claire, of Sandpoint; son Steve (Patricia) Sodorff, Sandpoint; daughter Marcia (Tom) Vanderford, Sagle; seven grandchildren, Stephanie, Breanne, Chris, Greg, Ryan, Kelly and Kara; and one great-grandson Conner; sister Glenna Hamilton of Moscow, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Leon and Ronald; and two sisters, Gertrude and Lois.
Memorial donations may be made to Bulldog Bench, 1105 Michigan St, Sandpoint, ID 83864; or to the V.F.W., 1325 W. Pine St, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements.
Please visit Mr. Sodorff’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.