Richard "Rick" Allyn Sonneborn

Richard Allyn "Rick" Sonneborn, age 79, of Richhill Township, Greene County, PA, loving husband and father, passed away peacefully at UPMC Washington hospital on December 27, 2024 surrounded by his wife and loved ones. He died from complications related to ALS which he had for many years. He was born on June 10, 1945, in Spartanburg, South Carolina and was the son of the late Meyer R. Sonneborn, DO and Lena Loreen Fisher Sonneborn.

Rick was a kind man and devoted husband who married the love of his life Marcia Elaine McMillen Sonneborn October 15, 1977. He was also a loving father to his daughter, Mikayla Loreen Sonneborn of New Orleans, LA. Rick is survived by his wife, daughter, sister Judith Ann Sonneborn (Ron) Beck of Washington, PA; brother Arthur Aaron Sonneborn, companion of Angela Huffman of, East Leroy, MI; sister Stephanie Allyson Sonneborn Hill of Wind Ridge, PA; sister-in-law Linda Sonneborn, Waynesburg, PA; three nieces, and four nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and brother, Meyer Robert Sonneborn Jr. and niece Kelly Christine Sonneborn.

Rick was a distinguished academic. He graduated from West Greene High School in 1963, completed his Bachelor of Science at Penn State University in 1967, his Master's Degree at the University of Southern California in 1972, and an additional Master's Degree at California University of Pennsylvania in 1982. He was an exceptional athlete earning a full scholarship to Penn State as a varsity basketball team member. 

During his playing career at West Greene High School, Rick was selected to the All-State First Team, All American Honorable Mention and the State Scoring Champion in 1962–1963. While at Penn State he led the Freshman team in scoring and played in the NCCA National Championships Regional playoffs in 1965. He was later inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Washington-Greene Chapter in 2014 and the West Greene High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2014-2015. He will be inducted into the Greene County Sports Hall of Fame on January 4, 2025.

Following graduation, he became a Peace Corp volunteer in Thailand. While there, he served as a professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, and as a teacher at the International School of Bangkok. He also played basketball in the National League of Thailand for four years and traveled extensively through Asia and Europe.

Upon returning to the states, he was an assistant basketball coach at Waynesburg College under Rudy Marisa when they achieved the first NAIA National Championships playoffs in 1980. From 1986–1993 he was the West Greene High School Varsity Basketball Coach turning the program around. 

Also on his return from Thailand, he continued his teaching career at the Youth Development Center in Waynesburg as Health and Physical Education Teacher. He then obtained his Master’s Degree in Special Education from Cal U and began teaching Special Ed at Fort Cherry High School. In 1985, he accepted a Special Education Learning Support teaching position at West Greene School District where he worked for 24 years. At West Greene, he was also an Assistant Cross Country Coach and volunteered as an assistant Track Coach.

He was highly respected in the community for his selfless spirit and his willingness to fight for causes he believed in. He was a former president of the Richhill Recreation Board and was credited with initiating the campaign to save Enlow Valley from destruction. He was a founding member and officer of the Association of Rural Conservation which formed to save Enlow Valley. In his capacity on Richhill Recreation Board, he established recreational areas for the community.

Rick enjoyed traveling, reading, computer technology, our furry adopted animal friends, and spending time with his family and friends. In his final years, Rick fell in love with the food and culture of New Orleans and made a second home there so he could spend more time with his daughter. He was known for his intellect, sense of humor, kindness and compassionate nature. 

Rick's family and friends will always remember him as a thoughtful, compassionate, and good-natured person who dedicated his life to his community, family, and students. His presence will be deeply missed, and his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.

Friends and family will be received on Friday, January 3, 2025, from 2—8pm at Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC., 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy. PO Box 434 Rogersville, PA 15359. Telephone: 724-499- 5181. The funeral service will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home, with Pastor Mark McMillen and Pastor Linda Shaw officiating. The family suggests donations be made to ALS Association, Western PA Chapter. To donate online go to als.org/PA or to send a check designate Western PA Chapter on check and send to: ALS Association, PO Box 37022, Boone, IA 50037.

To order personalized jewelry for Rick go to www.legacytouch.com and enter PIN: DQCN46HF