In loving memory of Dick Tessier we have set up the following youth fund in his name. Please read the description below. SUPERVALU, the organization he represented during his time on the MN DARE Board of Directors, is going to start by making a donation in his honor. We also have a donor willing to match the first donations by individuals up to $5000 for this fund. Let’s join together to carry out Dick’s dream! Thanks.
Minnesota D.A.R.E.
Richard “Dick” Tessier Youth Fund
To expand D.A.R.E. programming and enhance the relationship between law enforcement and the communities in which we serve. Donations may be made at www.mndare.org (Use the donate button at the top right corner of the Home Page. Please designate “Dick Tessier Youth Fund.”
While Dick was in hospice, he and his brother-in-law came up with an idea to make sun catchers and donate a portion of the proceeds to Minnesota D.A.R.E. Dick had one in his hospice window and sold several from his bed. Any donation $100 or greater made to Dick’s Youth Fund will receive one of his sun catchers. Please include your address you would like this sun catcher sent to. These will be made without the stickers at the bottom (so you can place your own department sticker) or you can pick which stickers you would like on the bottom or you can leave the bottom without stickers (we will just include the stickers and you can add them).
The symbol depicts a thin blue line, representing law enforcement, against a black background, and is commonly used to express solidarity with law enforcement, to commemorate officers who have died in the line of duty, and to symbolize the relationship of law enforcement with the community as the protectors of the community from criminals and victimization.
***You can read the memorial read at Dick’s Funeral Luncheon from MN DARE at our website or our Facebook page.
http://www.mndare.org/WordPress/blog/2018/03/06/dear-family-and-friends-of-dick-tessier/
https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDare/
In Loving Memory of Richard (Dick) Tessier:
Richard (Dick) Tessier began his work with Minnesota D.A.R.E. back in the early 90’s shortly after the non-profit was incorporated. Steve Goertz, the D.A.R.E. Officer with Ramsey County, asked him to become involved and he quickly found his place in an organization he grew to love.
Dick worked for SUPERVALU and was able to get the company on board for several D.A.R.E. events during the 90’s. By 1998, he was able to set up a program with Reclaim Center where SUPERVALU donated dated, damaged, and overstocked product to Minnesota D.A.R.E. It was then sold by Reclaim Center and a cash donation was made to the non-profit. This program quickly became the largest fundraiser for Minnesota D.A.R.E. and has remained in place to this date. This funding kept the Minnesota D.A.R.E. program alive and thriving, even during the recession.
By 2000, Dick had been nominated to become the President of the Board of Directors. He proudly served in that position until he passed away. Just weeks before his passing, he was still working on another fundraiser for Minnesota D.A.R.E., making sun catchers. He even sold three of them in the nursing home.
Dick loved seeing children with their D.A.R.E. officers. In December, 2017, we were able to transport him to his last D.A.R.E. graduation with the Lakes Area Police Department in Chisago. SUPERVALU sent one of the D.A.R.E. tractor-trailers to the event with plenty of food for all of the D.A.R.E. graduations and events in the Lakes Area. Several board members joined him for a very moving day.
Over the years, Dick helped with a variety of events — D.A.R.E. river cruises; many annual dinners and galas; he dealt cards at our Texas hold’em tournaments and black jack; he served thousands and thousands of hot dogs, in all kinds of weather, at the D.A.R.E. Twins games; attended Timberwolves/Lynx games; judged poster contests; delivered toys to children impacted by flooding and tornados, assisted at D.A.R.E. Officers conferences and trainings; volunteered at Twins Fest and many other D.A.R.E. booths; harassed golfers on the putting green; delivered workbooks; supported D.A.R.E. at legislative meetings; conducted board meetings; moved the office several times, and many, many other events.
He worked with SUPERVALU to design tractor trailers for D.A.R.E., provide D.A.R.E. graduation cakes, have D.A.R.E. at their Expo, give D.A.R.E. office space and storage, support the golf scramble and gala, arranged for SUPERVALU volunteers to assist D.A.R.E., and many other projects. He made sure that the president of the region was always active with D.A.R.E. and he was very proud of SUPERVALU’s involvement.
In his retirement, it was his plan to expand D.A.R.E. in Northern Minnesota and provide more programming for Native American children. Plans are being made to continue this wish for Dick.