Richard Horst

Richard Lee “Dick” Horst, 73, of Ellicott City, Maryland, passed away on April 10, 2022 at Gilchrist Hospice Center, Columbia, MD, after a brief illness.

Dick was born on March 27, 1949 to Ralph W and Helen Witherspoon Horst in Chambersburg, PA. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Brenda Marie Russell, for 50 years. After graduating from Chambersburg Area Senior High School in 1967, he went on to complete a B.S. in Biology and Psychology at Bucknell University, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at Carnegie-Mellon University. He also earned a Certificate in Professional Ergonomics from the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics.

After his doctoral work and a series of positions related to research in applied behavioral psychology, Dick founded and served as president of UserWorks, Inc., a usability and human factors engineering consultancy, beginning in 1989 and continuing up to the present. As a pioneer in his field, Dick has contributed to its advancement in a variety of ways, including numerous published essays, presentations at professional conferences, and service positions in professional societies. Throughout his 33 years at the helm of UserWorks, Dick frequently served as guest lecturer for local university classes and hired and mentored numerous individuals just entering the field. In 2019, Dick was honored by the User Experience Professionals Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dick loved spending time with family, especially his three young grandchildren. As a music lover, in earlier years Dick enjoyed playing the trumpet and singing in a barbershop chorus, as well as the chancel choir of Bethany United Methodist Church, where he was a member for nearly 40 years.

In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by their son, William Russell Horst “Bill”, married to Danae and living in Pasadena, CA, and daughter Megan Nicole McCann, married to Tim and living in Briarcliff Manor, NY, as well as three grandchildren, Audrey, Colin, and Aidan McCann of Briarcliff Manor, NY. Dick is also survived by his two younger sisters, Carol Hetrick and Barbara Frederick, both of Hanover, PA. He is preceded in death by both parents.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, April 14, 2022 in Green Hill Cemetery, 953 S. Potomac Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268 with Pastor Chris Renner officiating. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, April 15, 2022 in Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Ln, Ellicott City, MD 21042 with Pastor Andrew Cooney officiating. Arrangements are by Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, Chambersburg, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Ln, Ellicott City, MD 21042 or online at https://bethanyumc.churchcenter.com/giving.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.geiselfuneral.com.