Richard “Dick” Francis Helm

Richard (Dick) Francis Helm (1941-2025)

Rochester, New York passed away without pain on Saturday, February 8^th, 2025 at Unity Specialty Hospital.

He was born to Stewart and Frances Helm. Dick graduated West High School (also known as Occidental High School) in 1960 where he was the kind of guy that was friendly with everyone. He kept in touch with high school friends and helped to plan reunions even up to a few years ago. He had a very full life. He served on the planning board of Sodus Point, drove bus for many years, and was a driving instructor for scores of students.  

A source of joy to many, he was most beloved for his sense of humor. His tall frame housed an enormous heart and belied his love of dancing. 

It was due to this love of dancing that, in 1989, he met Nina, whom he would eventually marry in August of 2004. Nina was drawn in (as many of his friends were) by his sense of humor, and his contradictions. He was spiritual, but grounded. He had a strong work ethic but understood that the work was never as important as the people doing it. He loved to travel but “home” was with his close family and friends (his truly favorite place was anywhere near a body of water). His years racing cars, where he broke 70% of the bones in his body, made him greatly respect safe driving, which made him an incredible driving instructor. 

Dick was a wonderful influence on his stepchildren, Elizabeth (Liz) Ann Parrotte (Boehm) and Christopher Lee Boehm. He proudly would refer to himself as either their “Bonus Dad” or “Pseudo-Dad” and even had a shirt he would proudly wear that proclaimed himself “World’s Greatest Pseudo-Dad.” He mentored and supported them through their early adulthood and teenage years, respectively, to usher them into the people they are today.

His role as a grandfather put a lie to his much-repeated statement towards children—that he supposedly did not care for them and never wanted them. He was gentle and caring to all three of those who called him “Grumpa.” He carried each one gently and made them all laugh with his personal twists on nursery rhymes or “silly” jokes.

Biological anthropologist Robin Ian MacDonald Dunbar theorized that the average human could not maintain a social circle greater than 150 people. Robin Dunbar never met Dick. His circle of friends in Rochester, in Sodus Point, in Webster, in Greece, and in the Springwater, NY Holiday Hill Campground he loved so much was expansive. 

Dick was preceded in death by his mother and father and is survived by wife Nina C. Helm (Christiano), stepdaughter Elizabeth (Keith) Parrotte (Boehm), stepson Christopher (Noël) Boehm, grandson Drake Lee Boehm, grand-daughter Morgan Christiana Boehm, grandson Ellis Dashiell Boehm and sister Jackie Holler.

His celebration of his life will be held Wednesday (Feb 19th) 4-7 PM at Vay-Schleich & Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626.