Richard Worst Obituary

Richard J. "Tug" Worst

April 26, 1966 - July 9, 2025

Tug was born in Columbus, OH at The Ohio State University on-campus hospital in 1966 to Becky and Dick Worst. He was born a Buckeye, raised by Buckeyes, and bled scarlet and grey until his last breath. Tug's family moved to Idaho in 1968 as a result of the draft during the Vietnam War, and he's been here ever since.

Tug fell in love with a Blenheim girl, Kari Phair, in the summer of 1985. Teenagers with an Erieau summer romance quickly transformed into two children, three grandchildren, nearly 35 years of marriage, and 40 years of going steady. They became an inseparable team, forging a life that they were proud of and building a family full of love.

Tug graduated from Denison University in Granville, OH in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in biology, and joined a legacy of two generations of Worsts who had done the same before him. He truly treasured his time on The Hill and often recounted its beauty and the wonderful memories made with lifelong friends. Following Denison, Tug attended Willamette University in Salem, OR, where he graduated with his juris doctor in 1992.

Tug spent 32 years practicing law in the State of Idaho. Over the years, his practice became a beacon of his character. He found his purpose in helping others and upholding the integrity of the profession. He spoke with respect and showed compassion to everyone who walked through his door. Throughout his career, he struck the perfect balance of kindness and tenacity, earning him the esteem of his peers and a legacy well-known in the Idaho legal community. He enjoyed the last three years of his practice working alongside his daughter, Madison. His pestering had finally paid off when he convinced her to join him in Idaho in 2022. They were both surprised to find just how enjoyable the practice became when they teamed up as Worst and Associates. For Madison, learning from her father was the highlight of their final years together.

Tug was diagnosed with an incurable form of pancreatic cancer in 2023. Through it all, he never lost his belief in his luck and the hope that his journey could be the one that led to a breakthrough. He exhausted every procedure that advances in medical science offered, with the intention of finding the cure or paving the way forward for someone who could. Kari remained by his side, his constant advocate, and when it was time to fight, they did it together just the same way they always had. Even on his hardest days, he found the strength to rise again for the next, and even into his final moments, his courage remained.

Tug's true home was always, and will forever be, Erieau, The Center of the Universe, as he called it. It truly was the center of his world. He dreamt of it each day when he was away, and basked the sweet sounds of Rondeau Bay when he was home. It is where he found his love for sailing, working as a sailing instructor with the Erieau Yacht Club for 10 years and racing his Lark as many Sundays as he could in the years that followed. When the trademark yellow sail of the "Boweevil," took to the Bay each summer, the races always got a little grittier and a lot more fun. Erieau is where he learned to fish, where he found his chosen family and best of friends, and where he carved his future with the person he loved most. He poured his soul into Erieau, and it always returned the favor.

When he wasn't in Erieau, Tug worshipped the river. He spent his life reveling in the winding rivers of Idaho and Montana, savoring each sunset, often with a little Jimmy Buffett playing in the background. He knew the flies inside and out and the curve in every bank. The rhythm of his cast and the addictive jolt of landing a brown on a dry set his soul on fire. It was his calm and his compulsion. As any great fly fisherman, he was truly haunted by water.

Tug was born to be a dad. He loved it to his core a trait he passed on to his son, Benny. His love for fatherhood and his children became a powerful influence for every father that followed. He never missed a track meet, spent countless years trekking through the northwest to support soccer and football teams, and took pride in the fact that he could still beat his kids in the 100m sprint well into his 40s. Over his life, Tug was a father to many, but no two people were more loved by him than Jack and Georgia Graham, to whom he proudly became a surrogate father after they lost their father and Tug's best friend, Jeff Graham, to cancer at a very young age. Though often from afar, Tug loved them deeply and celebrated their lives as he did his own children. Then came the grandchildren. When Benny became a father, Tug was overjoyed to become a grandfather. As "Papi" to Hadlee, Nash and Griffin "Tug", he beamed with pride at every milestone, and relentlessly schemed to find more opportunity to see their faces. He never, ever stopped thinking of them.

Tug loved his life. He made friends everywhere he went, filled every room with laughter, and never took himself too seriously. He was funny, and generous, and abundantly kind. He lived without regret for the past or fear of the future. In living the phrase "be here, now," he sought meaning in every moment. Each day, at 11:11 a.m., his watch chimed as a reminder to reflect on his wonderful life. And each day, he seized that moment of gratitude.

Tug's remarkable life leaves a sadness behind for the many that loved and cared for him. To his friends near and far, you became the foundation of his support network during his battle with cancer, and continue to amaze us with your generosity. To his many doctors, nurses and caregivers, your unwavering commitment to solving the puzzle always gave him the confidence and strength to press on and try again. Tug and his family are forever thankful to Dr. Ippolito, Dr. Thibault, Dr. Ward and Dr. Bisbal and their respective teams in Twin Falls; to Dr. Chuong at the Miami Cancer Institute; and to Dr. Edwin, Dr. Saab, Dr. Faigle, and Dr. Alzubaidi and the brilliant crew at the Mayo Clinic; and the many, many others who faithfully devoted their time to Tug's fight.

Tug is survived by his parents, Rebecca Worst and Richard W. "Dick" Worst, his wife Kari Phair Worst, his children Madison Worst (Kylon Myers) and R. Benjamin Worst (Christina Worst), his grandchildren Hadlee, Nash and Griffin "Tug", and all those who loved him and cherished his time on earth. A celebration of life will be announced in the coming weeks, to which all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Idaho Public Television, Idaho2Fly, or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network ("PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network)"). There is a solution to pancreatic cancer, if we only give it the attention it deserves. Please honor Tug by urging your local representatives to protect cancer research funding. Together we can find a cure.