Richard A. Vas Dias, 86, of Topton, formerly of Kempton, died Aug. 8, 2025 at his residence. He was born in Manhattan, N.Y. and spent his childhood in Queens, graduating from Resurrection-Ascension School (1953) and St. John’s Preparatory School, Brooklyn (1957). He attended St. Francis College (now University), in Loretto, Pa., interrupting his education to serve on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps 1961 to 1966.

He spent 18 months training as a Naval Aviator, carrier duty and 13 months in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. He returned to St. Francis, graduating as an English teacher in May 1968 when he married his beloved wife, Bernadette Susan Branas.

He won a two-year teaching assistantship and they moved to the Lehigh Valley, where they remained for 54 years settling in Kempton, gardening organically and raising chickens, pigs and beef.

He was an English teacher at Southern Lehigh High School, where he taught for 26 years, advising the student newspaper for 15. He also stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a major in 1978.

In 1996, he retired from Southern Lehigh, but continued to teach literature, composition and mentor student teachers as an adjunct at Kutztown University. He taught one year at Northampton Community College and earned certification to teach English as a Second Language at the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit, which he continued to do at Lehigh-Carbon Community College until 2010.

His second love was music; he was organist and choir director at Jerusalem (Red) Union Church, Kempton and St. Peter’s Union Church, Lynnville, for 15 years and at St. John’s UCC, Laurys Station for five years.

He was a 15-year member of PSEA Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission. In that role, he traveled throughout Pennsylvania, serving on ethics hearing boards. In his role as newspaper adviser, he served on the state Board of the Pennsylvania School Press Association, judging newspapers and conducting workshops statewide. He was a lifetime Emeritus member of the board. He is also a life member of the Marine Corps League, Bethlehem Detachment 284.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Peter Andre, of Slatington and Rosalynde Ann, of Providence, R.I.; sister, Joanne Thelen, of Garden City, N.Y.; grandchildren, Logan and Gabriel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Aug. 18 at St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church, 1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield. The Rev. (Fr.) John Gibbons will be the celebrant. Family and friends may pay their respects 9:30-11 a.m. before the mass. Military honors accorded by the U.S. Marine Corps will immediately follow the mass.

The Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., in Schnecksville has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online expressions of sympathy may be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Marine Corps League, Bethlehem Chapter, c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, 18078-0196.