Dick Dahlgard, --"Mr. Burien" to many-- died suddenly on Wednesday at his Lake Burien residence.

Mr. Dahlgard turned 73 on July 19.

He was a true Burienite.

He attended Sunnydale Elementary and graduated from Highline High in 1954.

Mr. Dahlgard opened Dick's Camera in 1969 and operated it successfully before retiring a couple of years ago.

But it was his community work that brought him his most important recognition.

He served on several boards including the Highline Medical Center, Hi-Liners, Highline High School Alumni Foundation Highline Historical Society. Discover Burien and Merchants of Burien.

Mr. Dahlgard served as official photographer for most of the groups he joined.

The alumni association named him its "Alumni of the Year" in 2007 and he was the first recipient of the "Robbie," awarded by the Robinson Newspapers for his outstanding contributions to the community.

Mr. Dahlgard also was chief organizer for the Burien 4th of July Parade and was a Miss Burien Scholarship Pageant sponsor for 30 years.

He is survived by son Nels, a Marine stationed in California, and daughter Paige, who was stationed in Iraq as a member of the Washington Army National Guard.

More details will appear in our print edition and online early next week.

Jerry Robinson remembers Dick

There is a reason that Dick Dahlgard won the first "Robbie" community service award from the Highine Times two years ago. He was, as the many thousands who knew him will agree, just an incredible human being. He never got rich and only sold his camera shop when digital cameras came on the market and he could not compete with huge chain stores that footballed the prices to where they sold them for less than he could buy them.

And who needs one hour photo finishing when you print your own a minute after you take the picture?

But, he never felt like life played a dirty trick. He just radiated love and duty to his fellow man. How about women? Well, he had five shots at marriage and a number of close calls but he talked to me many times about his love life and he never belly ached about any mate.

Matter of fact the only time I ever heard him moan about anything was the dratted Democrats in power. A solid believer in the fact that we should lie down in the bed we make and not expect the government to hold our hands. And a ferocious believer in the flag and our military forces.

He was never a big advertiser but he sure loved Burien. Burien loved him also. So did I.