California Surveyors Forums

Early Sat. March 8th, Richard "Dick" Seaman, closed his final chapter.

Dick was low key and many in the profession, outside of local area, did not know him. Seems to be a part of the trade.
Dick was the manager/owner of Freeman & Seaman Land Surveyors for 40+years, a small town full service Survey Company.
Self taught, Navy Vet, after hiring on to cut brush for the survey of a neighbors ranch, asked for a job and within 5 years, became an LS and an owner.

Dick was the main player for land development projects within Mariposa County for 3 decades, LDA, LLA, property verification, topo for site design, were the projects which maintained the business. During slow downs, USFS boundary contracts kept the crews working and the doors open.

Crime scene documentation in Yosemite, Control survey for the Yosemite Micro wave system, Topo of trailheads along the Tioga Road, Small Tract Act surveys of developed mining patents deep in the woods, retracement of miles of GLO surveys for USFS land, private ranches, re-establishing portions of the LAS Mariposas Grant, control, topo, easement establishment, construction of a 9 mile water line infrastructure project, all with a small office of 4-8 lucky people.

True definition of mentorship, the past couple of days have been nothing but conversations of people whom Dick mentored professionally and personally. Amazing how much impact a small town firm can have on the profession, 4 have acquired their PLS, 6377, 8851, 9407 & 9712, one has a Doctorate in GIS and is teaches at a University. As well as influence outside of the firm, assisting the Assessor's mapper understand deeds and local history.

Dick had a dream of hiking the PCT in his free time, which he did in segments, starting when he was 60, over several years he hiked most of the southern half from San Diego Co to Sonora Pass.

I had the privileges of working for Dick for 25 years, he took care of me and my family thru the 90's and from 2008 to 2012. Giving me the tools to move on, at my choice, to my current position. After to transitioning, I had the privilege of being a peer for 10+ years, overall 35+ of mentorship, debates, sharing of ideas, love of coffee and remote places and friendship.

Respectfully.

Russell A. Marks, PLS 6377

Sad to hear, Russ. He was fairly prolific in Eastern Tuolumne County as well.

Sad to hear Russ. I enjoyed the couple conversations I had with him when you introduced me. I know he had a very influential impact to the people in Mariposa area. You were lucky to have that mentorship and to experience that range of surveys in your career with him.

Thank you, Russ.
Can you send a copy of this to Maria/Tess and ask them to forward to his son? I know he would love to read this.

This is defiantly sad news.. I started working for Dick in 1990 as a rodman and progressed my way up to party chief... I can’t begin to express the respect, gratitude, and appreciation I have for him.. he was such a great mentor and a better friend..

I also have so many fond and funny memories of him.. and the Freeman & Seaman crew.. great times..

I will never forget the time we were performing a BLM survey on Feliciana Mountain, and he asked me what the diameter of a found rock mound was..
I told him “I don’t know.. 2-3 foot” and replayed to me “Are you sure? Make sure you are confident on every decision you make because it matters” I will never forget those words and not to mention that hot, brushy, and miserable day on that mountain.. and today… I try to live by those words.

He was always there for me and my family keeping me employed during the slow winter months. I can't tell you how many times I changes the oil of the survey truck and how many times I sharped the darn chain saws..

He was defiantly one of the last good guys.

Joe Cardoso
City Surveyor

Posted by the family.

Surrounded by loved ones, our Dad, like he did his whole life, “did it his way” and passed away quietly and peacefully early Saturday morning March 8th.

At 2 years old living in Chicago, he lost his own father. A year and a half later, he and his family set off cross country to start a new adventure in California. And he continued that quest his whole life.

Living in Arcadia, where the family had horses, chickens and rabbits, Dad loved to ride Puzzles the Pony down Double Drive. At 11, with his buddies he would wrap snakes around his neck, go home and scare his mother half to death in the kitchen. Super close to his mom, they read books from the book club together, and sat and just talked - a lot. After high school he met a girl named Penny Lane. They roamed the California desert on horseback, drove around in a 55 Chevy convertible and cooly photographed the landscape. The romantic dreamer was hooked.

Dad joined the Navy in the 60’s during the Vietnam war, touring Okinawa, Guam, Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Korea and was off the coast of Vietnam on a ship named The El Dorado. He met his first wife on tour in the Philippines. As he dreamt of a natural life and living off the land, he bought acreage in Bailey Flats, CA and moved his family to that ranch from Pasadena, CA. He tried his hand at raising livestock while our mom grew vegetables in the garden. As little girls our pets were farm animals, goats, pigs, chickens, horses…we loved it. He had 5 daughters during his first marriage.

While living in Bailey Flats, he met Bill Conley and Jerry Freeman, joining their survey team as chainman. He loved working in the mountains and was determined to learn all things surveying. Upon passing the exam he received his license and later went on to buy into the business from Jerry, renaming it Freeman & Seaman Land Surveyors . The business was the love of his life. He was meticulous with his work, making sure he did right by all of his clients. He worried deeply about this right up to the time he passed.

He hosted many travelers at his home through couchsurfing and loved meeting such an incredible range of people. He would take them hiking in Yosemite, enjoy evenings with wine and cooking together, playing guitar and swapping stories.

Dad was physically fit and extremely active, completing many portions of the PCT, hiking Mt. Whitney, running several marathons and was a passionate tennis player. He loved poetry and wrote many pieces throughout his life, some very funny, some introspective and thoughtful.

He had a son during his second marriage, who he loved very much and was proud to pass the legacy of his name to. His only sister will miss her baby brother deeply. He has a large family including grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dad was a mentor to a wide range of people. He was interested in their stories, the curiosity of youth, their dreams and adventures and the variety of their philosophical ideals.

Mariposa was always home to Dad. Although he had many opportunities to leave, he simply couldn't. He loved his business there, the friends he made, the weekly coffee meets with buddies, the tourists, the hiking, low key lifestyle and daily visits to The Pony. Dad loved the ocean, he enjoyed dipping his toes in the water and feeling the sand on his feet. But his heart was always in Mariposa.

Dad loved ice cream, cookies and bacon. He always put himself together in the mornings, dressed properly, and made sure he had a fresh shave and his hair was neat.

He was an adorably dorky dancer. As kids, he would balance us on his feet and dance with us. Dad loved Linda Ronstadt, John Denver and the Eagles. He was an avid reader and enjoyed philosophy, fiction, history and more. One of his favorite sayings was, “So It Goes”, from a book written by Kurt Vonnegut.

He kept his mother's rocking chair and sat in it nightly, reading, pensively looking out the window, drinking his coffee and watching deer quietly go by.

Dad lived a passionate life of adventure, variety and pursued his dreams and desires. He was authentic and believed in integrity. He was compassionate and curious. He lived a full life and would undoubtedly not change a thing.

He is a part of us - and will live on in all of us. Dad's legacy will endure. We’ll miss you terribly and will love you always, Dad.

Love your daughters
Tessie, Carolyn, Delia, Amy and Valerie.

RAM:

That was one heck of an obituary, well written. Thank you for posting it.

DWoolley

Grave side service, May 24 at noon, Mariposa Cemetery.