Richard Anthony "Dick" Dalla Mura

Richard Anthony Dalla Mura entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. The relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Dalla Mura are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM, Saturday, October 31, 2015, at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 PM with a Vigil Service at 6:30 PM at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. The Rite of Committal, at St. Lawrence Cemetery, will be private. Richard Anthony "Dick" Dalla Mura was born in Portsmouth, NH on August 2, 1928, the oldest child of Bart Dalla Mura and Elizabeth O'Leary Dalla Mura. In 1951, he graduated from the Naval Academy and went on to have a distinguished career in the Navy for 30 years and retired as a Captain. During his career he was a Captain of Minesweepers, Destroyer Escorts and Destroyers and a Commodore of a squadron of ships. He also taught at the Naval Academy and at the War College in Newport, RI, and served at BUPERS and the Pentagon. Due to his shiphandling expertise, even after his retirement in 1981, the Navy called him back up to duty for a special operation as a Commodore. He was married to Emily Tobias Figg from Charleston, in 1951. He was a devoted husband for 43 years and took wonderful care of her throughout her long fight with MS. In 1994, he married Catherine Farrah, who was his devoted wife for 21 years. After retiring from the Navy, Dick had many varied jobs and interests. He: owned a tree nursery on Yonge's Island, and became a Master Gardener through Clemson University; was Head Master of Country Day Academy in Ravenel; was Director of the Sustainability Institute at 113 Calhoun Street; was a District President of the Exchange Club and President of the Mount Pleasant Club; was an active board member in the CYDC and their work against Child Abuse. He was very involved in St. Mary's Catholic Church, and served in many roles, including President of the Holy Name Society and Head Usher. He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Cathie) Farrah Dalla Mura, his daughter, Sallie Dalla Mura Arnold and her husband, Bernard, her children- Chelsea and Xander; his step-daughter, Tiffin Farrah Lamoreaux and her husband, Charles and her children, Will and Sam. He is also survived by his brothers, Bart Dalla Mura and John Dalla Mura and his sisters, Toni Favreau, Mary King and Ann Smith and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to St. Mary's Restoration Fund, 89 Hasell Street, Charleston, SC 29401 or to the South Carolina Autism Society, www.scautism.org/donate.