Richard Carl Shellhorn '66

Richard Carl Shellhorn passed peacefully in his sleep. Richard was the son of Charles Walker and Constance Marie Pearce Shellhorn. He had been born in Washington D.C. at National Homeopathic Hospital in December 1948. The family lived in Washington D.C. before moving to Maryland in 1950.

Richard's father had joined the Department of State, Foreign Service Branch, in 1956, causing the family to move to their first posting in Manilla, Philippines, until 1958. After a short home leave, the family was sent to Bonn, West Germany. In 1960 he moved to Cairo, Egypt until 1962, when Richard started 9th grade at a boarding school on an American Air Force Base in Dreux, France, the family moved from Cairo, Egypt, to Beirut, Lebanon, where Richard went at the end of the school year and spent the summer. Returning to the United States in August 1963 he prepared to start the 10th grade at Suitland Senior High in Suitland, Maryland. The rest of the family returned to the States and prepared to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1964, which was home until 1966. He completed the second half of 10th grade, 11th grade, and the first half of 12th grade in Argentina. Richard returned to the United States in January 1966 and graduated from Suitland Senior High in June 1966.

Working and also attending Prince George Community College at night, Richard also took flying lessons. He obtained his Private Pilot, single engine land, License in 1969 and also graduated form PGCC with an Associate's of Art Degree. He enlisted in the Army and spent time in Vietnam before his discharge. Between August 1971 and January 1973 Richard lived in Buffalo, New York, where he worked at Washington Surplus Center, Tent City, and attended Milford Mill College of the University of New York. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland and attended Towson State College beginning in 1973, finally being awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1976. During this time he worked for the Luskin's appliance chain as an Assistant Manager. He also worked for the Fairlanes Bowling Center on Greenspring Avenue as the manager.

This was the period when Richard began acting, managing and directing at various Community Theaters. After an acting class taught by Ed Rosen, he auditioned at Vagabond Players in Fells Point for the part of Eddy Edwards in the play Forty Carats in 1983. He next played the lead, Simon Mostny, in the Agatha Christie play, Murder on the Nile. Dial "M" for Murder was his next play at Dundalk Community College where he played lead, Tony Wendice. He played "Adam" in the Arthur Miller play, The Creation of the World and Other Business at the Jewish Community Center and directed by Ed Rosen. He did several plays with the Heritage Players in the Reisterstown section of Baltimore. They included Jim Cargan in Seven Keys to Baldpate, Tony Kirby in You Can't Take it With You, Stage Manager for Brigadoon, and his greatest joy as Director, Philadelphia Story.

These plays took place while Richard worked at Central Safe and Key Service, a locksmith company where he learned his trade from Daniel Weiner and Morris Singer. It was 1989 that Richard started his own company, Emergency Lock and Key Service, which became better known as E*L*K*S* Safe Service, as his business evolved toward Safe opening and repairs. His business became more safe oriented taking work form national retailer's customers needing service. Even after reaching retirement age he continued working into his 70's.

In July 1984, Richard purchased his home on South Bethel Street in Fells Point section of Baltimore. While there, he became an unsuccessful candidate for City Council in Baltimore from the First District in 1987. Richard married Patricia Ann Mehlig of New York, May 11, 1991 at a beautiful wedding in the Conservatory Gardens, Central Park, North Garden. Richard had obtained his Scuba Open Water Diver Certificate 12/29/90 while vacationing in Key Largo, Florida with his future wife. Together they were blessed by the birth of their only child, a daughter, Sarah Catherine in 1996.

Richard's greatest accomplishment was publishing a book, A Guide to the Formation of the Constitution. He was convinced that by following the footsteps of the Father of the Constitution, James Madison, he could fully understand the intent and meaning of the words used in the Constitution. By reading the books Madison read while researching the Ancient and Modern Confederacies, Richard would better understand how various words were used by writers in the 1700's. He, in fact, read the very definition of the term "natural born" tha Madison and most other Delegates, if not all, had read and were fully aware of the meaning and intent. He spent the rest of his life working to convince others that the Constitution is the Supreme Law and has to be observed in order for the Nation to continue.

Richard leaves behind the mother of his daughter, his former wife, Patricia; daughter, Sarah Catherine; brother, Charles Walker Shellhorn, Jr., and his daughter Leah Marie. Richard's sister Mary Margaret passed in November 2017.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit at Schimunek Funeral Home Inc., 9705 Belair Rd. Nottingham, MD 21236 on Thursday, July 3, 2025 from 4-5 PM, where a Memorial Service will be held at 5PM. Interment Private.