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Obituaries

Richard Irvin, 75, formerly of Saratoga, died March 10 after an eight-year battle with prostate cancer.

Irvin was born in Berkeley in 1930. He grew up in Oakland and earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from San Francisco State University in 1953 and a master's degree in basic science from the University of Colorado in 1960.

Irvin was awarded a California lifetime teaching credential in 1968. A resident of Saratoga from 1967 to 1980, he taught math at Saratoga High School from 1961 to 1980 and at West Valley College from 1979 to 1980. Following his retirement, he earned a master's degree in human ecology from UC-Davis in 1982 and led numerous adventure travel groups for Mountain Travel, USA.

A man of many hobbies, Irvin was an Eagle Scout, a mountain climber, a book and stamp collector and a birder. One of a small group of Bay Area climbing enthusiasts in the 1950s, he participated in numerous mountaineering expeditions and traveled extensively. He was a member of a four-man team that in 1956 attempted the first ascent of Rakaposhi in Pakistan, which is 25,550 feet high. He was part of the successful Gasherbrum I expedition in Pakistan in 1958, the only American expedition to accomplish the first ascent of a peak more than 8,000 meters high. He was also one of the four climbers on the first official American climbing team to visit Russia following the Cold War in 1975.

Later in life, he became an avid birder; his life list included 6,002 species of birds. He was a member of numerous organizations, including the American Alpine Club, the Sierra Club, the American Birding Association and the American Philatelic Society.

He is survived by his wife, Kris Carter; his daughters, Kristina Irvin of Saratoga, Andrea Irvin of Berkeley; Katja Irvin and her husband Bernie Ross of San Jose; his son, Hanns Irvin and his fiancée, Patty Espeseth of Oakland; his sisters Maxine Ciappini of Portland, Ore. and Barbara Durham of Reno, Nev.; his first wife and the mother of his children, Adelheid Irvin of Pacific Grove; and many friends. A daughter, Ingrid Irvin, died previously.

Donations may be made in his name to the International Crane Foundation's international programs, E-11376 Shady Lane Road, P.O. Box 447, Baraboo, WI 53913, or www.savingcranes.org.

For information on services, email irvincelebration@cableone.net.