Richard P. McPherson 1945-2025

He was born Feb. 28, 1945, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Etta Mae Endress and Huebert Durden and was lovingly adopted at 5 days old by Paul and Clara McPherson.

Growing up on a large dairy farm in Petersburg, Mac learned early that a strong work ethic suited his super energetic nature. His life, according to him, was perfect. He would rise at 5 a.m. to help milk the cows, attend school, participate in sports (year-round), then return home for the evening milking. In the summers, he would bale hay and plant acres of crops as well as a 1-acre vegetable garden. He continued planting the garden until 2023, always sharing a great portion of his crops with the community.

Dick graduated from Springfield High School in 1963 then graduated from Heidelberg College with a BA in Comprehensive Social Studies while playing four years of football. He received both an MS in secondary administration and an MS in counseling from Youngstown State University.

In 1968, he began coaching football at Poland Seminary High School with Dave Pavlansky and Mel Klingler while teaching history, economics, psychology and government. His mischievous pranks have resulted in many Coach Mac Stories.

Mac was a 50-year member of Poland Presbyterian Church, serving several terms as an Elder and chairman of the Mission Committee. In 1985, he traveled to the Soviet Union with the National Council of Churches to help promote peace. He loved to travel and he and Della made several trips to Europe and all the Hawaiian Islands.

Due to his kidney transplant in 2018 and the diagnoses of a rare cardiac amyloidosis in 2022, the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic urged him to find his biological siblings. Mac found three siblings on the Durden (father’s) side and four siblings on the Endress (mother’s) side. All welcomed him with open arms and loving hearts, and he enjoyed getting to know each of them and spending time with both sides.

Mac was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Clara McPherson; his biological parents, Etta Mae Endress and Huebert Durden; and his half-sister, Joann Durden Pollett.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Della; daughter, Emily McPherson Sutton of Hudson and her two sons, Conor and Jack; son, David (wife, Jill LaBram) of Olowalu, Maui, and their son, Van. He is also survived by his siblings, Jane McPherson Wright, with whom he grew up; Carol Cox Christenson, Rick Cox, Bill Cox, Pam Cox McCaslin, Hugh Durden and Deborah Durden Johns.

We are grateful for the support of Ohio Living Hospice and the special nurse Francine Horn.

Mac chose to have his body donated to the Cleveland Clinic for amyloid research.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at the Poland Presbyterian Church, 2 Poland Manor.

Visitors will be received from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. and a meal.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Poland Presbyterian Church.

(special notice)