Richard J. Seyler

Richard J. Seyler
02/12/1941 - 05/11/2026

Rich Seyler, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2026 at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California. He was 85 years old.
Born in San Francisco on February 12, 1941, to the late Ovid and Rose Seyler, Rich was shaped from the start by the city he would spend his life serving. He was educated at the esteemed Saint Ignatius College Preparatory and later earned an associate's degree in fire science from City College of San Francisco
In 1964, Rich joined the San Francisco Fire Department, embarking on what would become a legendary 32-year career. He began at 4 Truck in the heart of downtown and served across the city with distinction, rising to the rank of Battalion Chief before his retirement in 1996. Among his proudest achievements was his role in commanding the response to the devastating Oakland Hills Fire. A forward thinker and natural leader, Rich was also instrumental in bringing computer technology into department operations during the 1990s, helping to modernize the SFFD. He was proud to help usher in a new era for the department and was a guiding hand in training "Feinstein's Finest", the historic first class of women to join the San Francisco Fire Department in 1987. To those he mentored and served alongside, he was not just a superior officer, he was a trusted colleague and role model.
Rich was warm, generous, and always ready with a story or a laugh. He became a father to six children with his first wife, Sandra. The family made their home in Pacifica, where Rich could often be found coaching his kids in softball, baseball, and basketball. In 1979 he married Maureen (O'Donnell), whom he had first known as a girl in grade school. Their love story, rekindled across a lifetime, lasted 39 devoted years, until Maureen's passing in 2018. He never stopped missing her.
He was an extraordinary golfer, a regular at Sharp Park and Harding Park in his youth, and continued to play well into his seventies. Even in his eighties, his love of the game never waned, he channeled it into his local Sons in Retirement club, keeping stats and organizing tournaments for fellow members. A lifelong fisherman, Rich took as much joy in sharing his catch as he did in landing it. His smoked striped bass, salmon, and fresh dungeness crab were loved by all who were lucky enough to receive them. He owned several fishing boats over the years, each one christened "Jellybeans", and handcrafted fishing poles, often gifting them to friends and family who treasure them today. Rich was also a voracious reader, often finishing multiple books a week, and he had a generous habit of passing along the ones he loved to family and friends.
Rich is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maureen; and his brothers, James (Frances) Seyler and David (Mona) Seyler. He is survived by his sister, Carolyn (Bruce) McCombs; his siblings-in-law Michael O'Donnell, Eddie (Donna) O'Donnell, and Kathy O'Donnell; his first wife Sandra Kelley; and his six children: Julie Seyler, Janet Clark, John (Valerie) Seyler, Joanne Horn, Jeanne Seyler, and Jamie (Timmy) Zann. He is also survived by his beloved twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and thirteen nieces and nephews.
His family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Queen of the Valley Hospital for the exceptional care they provided Rich in his final days.
A private family ceremony will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery. All who wish to celebrate Rich's life are warmly invited to a reception on May 20th at noon at Sharp Park Golf Course restaurant in Pacifica.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Richard's memory to:
Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH): https://fishsonoma.org/donate/
San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation:
https://www.sffcpf.org/donate/

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