Richard Pearson JR.

Richard Pearson Jr., age 81, passed away on February 8, 2026, at Wellstar North Fulton Regional Hospital in Roswell, Georgia.

He is survived by his beloved life partner of 24 years and three months, Olga Espínola, with whom he shared many mutual interests including classical music, an infinite curiosity for all subjects, a love of the outdoors, and a deep affection for nature and animals, especially dogs.

He is also survived by his two daughters, Clare E. Pearson of Napa, California, and Laura Pearson of Willow, Alaska; his sister, Susan Pearson of Albany, New York; and his sister, Pamela Grossman of Bainbridge Island, Washington. His grandchildren include Joseph Hansen, Gemma Hansen, and Conifer Stine.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Katherine Mikula Pearson, who passed away in 1988, and by his brother, Steven Avery Pearson.

Richard, known as “Dick” to Olga and friends in Georgia and as “Rick” to his family, received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1966 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1972. He served as a Professor of Chemistry at Colorado State University in Fort Collins during the 1980s and retired as an atmospheric chemist from NASA in 1996. Retirement did not diminish his insatiable curiosity about nearly every subject.

He met Olga four days after September 11, 2001, at a choir audition in San Jose, California. In her, he found a soulmate who shared his enthusiasm for learning and sharing knowledge. Together they spent many years exploring their shared passions.

When his health began to decline and Olga became his sole caregiver, their profound devotion to one another never wavered, nor did their shared love for their angel dogs, classical music, and lifelong learning.

May his memory always be a blessing.