Richard T. Pravlik

Richard T. Pravlik (89), most recently of Tucson, Arizona, passed away on August 23, 2023. He was a long-term Maryland resident of Essex and Annapolis, where he lived with his wife and raised his family. He retired to Sebring, Florida and then relocated back to Maryland, in Delmar, before his final move to Tucson, Arizona.

Richard was born to John and Catherine Pravlik (deceased), on April 10, 1934, in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Being from a large Catholic family, Richard was designated as the family's possible religious vocation and was sent as a young teenager to what was then the Holy Ghost Seminary (now known as Holy Ghost Prep School) in Bensalem, PA. At that time, it was a six-year junior seminary of the Missionary Fathers of the Holy Ghost. On a break from seminary, he met his future wife, Bernadine (Bonnie) Franks, at a roller skating rink. They were married on June 18, 1955, in Connellsville, PA, and were together until Bonnie's death on November 24, 2007.

Richard and Bonnie relocated from PA to Essex, MD, in 1956, wherein Richard obtained work as a meat cutter. Eventually, he went to work for Giant Food, Inc. and spent the rest of his career as a meat cutter, a meat manager and then a meat supervisor, for the company. His career spanned 35 years.

Richard had many and various hobbies. He gardened, brewed his own root beer (with a memorable experience of some root beer exploding when he had one of his famous family get-togethers), provided hairdressing services for friends and family members, and both he and Bonnie were long-time square dancers. He crafted wallets, handbags and various sundries with leather tooling for friends and family, too. He loved to go fishing and crabbing, steamed crabs for many a party (he loved presenting Maryland's delicacy to those who were unfortunate enough not to live in the "Land of Pleasant Living"), and was a talented cook. His children can vouch for the Sunday breakfasts he would "create"; before the family went off to Sunday Mass. He was a devout Catholic. In Florida, both Richard and Bonnie volunteered for the church, visiting shut-ins, and Richard was a volunteer at the local hospital. In his later retired years, he began crafting jewelry and doing bead working. Richard was the life of the party and hosted many a family gathering and reunion. He was always the guy with the funny hat and/or tee-shirt, manning the grill, and having a glorious time.

Richard is the beloved husband of the late Bernadine "Bonnie" Pravlik (nee Franks); Loving father of Michele Brown (husband, Jeff) of Maryland, Karen Simpson (husband, Patrick) of Arizona and Richard (Rick) Pravlik (wife, Sandee) of Maryland; Cherished grandfather of Lauren Clein (Eric) of Texas, Lindsay Peelman (Jim) of California, Kenneth Burden (Nikki Tanneti) of New Jersey, Ryan Nelson (Ashley Brown) of Arizona, Noah Nelson (Elly Zimmer) of Arizona, Sierra Ballard (Matthew) of Maryland, and Cameron Pravlik (Kaylie) of Maryland; Dear great-grandfather of nine great-grandchildren. Richard was one of eight children. He is predeceased by four brothers and one sister and is survived by a brother, James Pravlik (Linda), and a sister, Patricia Berzansky (Denny). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Richard will be coming home to Maryland. There will be a viewing from 4-7 pm on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Bruzdzinski Funeral Home, 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex, MD 21221. On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, there will be a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass offered at 11:00 am, at Our Lady of Queen of Peace, 10003 Bird River Road, Middle River, MD 21220. Entombment immediately following at Holly Hill Memorial Gardens, 10201 Bird River Road, Baltimore, MD 21220.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Peppi's House, the inpatient hospice of Tucson Medical Center, where Richard was given comfort and solace in his last days. Donations may be made on-line at https://www.tmcaz.com/medical-programs/hospice/donate-to-tmc-hospice or mailed to TMC Hospice at Home & Peppi's House, 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712. Please make your donation in Richard's name and designate it for the hospice.