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In memory of

Richard "Dick" Francis McGill

Key Biscayne, FL, USA

1928 - July 20, 2020

1928 - Jul 20, 2020

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On July 20th Richard Dick Francis McGill passed away after a short illness. Richard Francis McGill was born a British subject in Antwerp, Belgium on December 27, 1928, lived all over the world and settled with his wife Lilliane in Key Biscayne. He lived his 92 years on his terms with kindness, love, generosity of spirit and gusto. His father was born in Glasgow, Scotland while his Belgian mother became a British subject when she was married Richard’s father in 1918 as a refugee from World War I. Dick’s father was a staff sergeant at the Royal Air Force base Highwicomb, England. When asked about "a real Scott born in Belgium?" Dick always quoted his mother who said: "if a cat has kittens in an oven, they are not cookies are they?" His sense of humor never abandoned him through thick and thin.

In 1936 Dick’s father, an Executive at General Motors Continental in Antwerp was transferred to Switzerland as an Executive Director of the newly formed GM Suisse company. Dick then attended primary and secondary schools in Bienne, the international Anglo-American school and Châteaux de Changins in Nyon and finally the college of St. Michel in Fribourg until 1946 when his father was transferred back to Antwerp following the end of WWII. Meanwhile Dick, a quick learner, had picked up several languages that served him well in later years.

Dick studied engineering career in Antwerp and later General Motors offered him an Engineering scholarship at Kettering University where Dick graduated in 1951. In 1949 he got engaged to his future wife Liliane whom he met at a Tennis Club in Antwerp, Belgium. Liliane later joined him in the United States where they were married in Detroit in 1950. Sadly, Liliane passed away in 2016 after 66 years of marriage and exciting adventures in countless countries.

Throughout his stellar career with general Motors, Dick was responsible for significant and lasting growth of the company in several countries. He started in Antwerp, Belgium selling trucks. His skills and talent were apparent to the executives in Detroit when they sent Dick to Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Brazil, China, Detroit and New York to improve and develop operations worldwide. Dick was responsible for bringing the Opel brand in Germany and Europe to top sales and cross development in the US. Anyone who knew Dick, experienced the General Motors sales pitch. Police Chief Charles Press shared that Dick relentlessly pursued the Village of key Biscayne to finally purchase some GM products for their fleet. A feat, considering he had retired some 25 years before!

Dick and Liliane moved to Brazil in 1968 starting a life-long love of Brazil and its people. He had huge challenges to overcome in developing the first GM passenger car fully manufactured in Brazil. A task he accomplished to great success and acclaim. Dick was named a Citizen of Honor by Sao Paulo for his contribution to the economic development of the city and the jobs the company created. Dick and Liliane loved living in Brazil and made many new friends. They both rapidly learned to speak Portuguese fluently and occasionally continued speaking it to each other long after retiring.

1989, DIck elected an early retirement after 40 years with GM and did not want to see “one more airport or one more Hilton hotel“, he liked to say. Dick and his father actually were on the GM payroll well over 100 years. He and Liliane made up their minds to retire in Key Biscayne, Florida. Lilliane was an avid ocean swimmer while Dick finally got a chance to play golf.

Life was good in Key Biscayne. Dick and Liliane were active members of the KB Yacht Club, enjoying frequent dinners and parties. He also joined the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne where he founded RAGS (Richards Amazing Golf Society) as a club within the Rotary Club. He was elected president of the Rotary Club in 1997 and later served in several leadership positions. Dick also became a member of the Prologue Society and the Key Biscayne Historical and Heritage Society. He was also President of the Commodore Club Condominium Association for several years. Dick was particularly proud of mentoring students at MAST Academy encouraging them to pursue engineering degrees. He was a very strong supporter of his alma mater, Kettering University, from the moment he entered the school in 1948.

Dick was never the same again after Liliane's death. Helping him with his grief was Vladimir (Liliane‘s dog). Dick and Vladimir became inseparable friends. Dick and Liliane had no children nor brothers or sisters. He often said his family was in the deep friendships he forged at the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne. A few close relatives are living in Tampa, Detroit and Chicago.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Rotary Club of Key Biscayne Foundation Inc.

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