Dr. Richard Thomas (Dick) Saeger, 83, passed peacefully on February 26, 2026 at Fellowship Brookside in Brooks County, GA. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Deborah; his children, Mary Beth Coulman (Jon) of Fletcher, NC; Katherine Saeger (Corey) of Easley, SC; Richard Saeger (Tracey) of Valdosta; GA, and Emily Jarvis (Morgan) of Macon, GA; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He grew up in Bethlehem, PA, the younger of two sons raised by their widowed mother, a school nurse who emphasized education and civic duty. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Army before pursuing higher education and earning his Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science from Miami University in Oxford, OH.

Dick began his 32-year teaching career as a professor of political science at Valdosta State University (then Valdosta State College) and retired from VSU in 2004 as professor emeritus. A long-serving member of the Georgia Political Science Association, he was awarded the Donald T. Wells Award in 2009. After retirement, Dick remained active with the Learning in Retirement program, finding great enjoyment in leading the Views in the News course with his friends and colleagues.

Dick was deeply involved in the community. He shared his love of music and robust tenor as a member of the Valdosta Choral Guild, Sine Nomine Singers, and Christ Episcopal Church choir. He volunteered as a member of the Historic Valdosta Board and Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission, earning the Harold M. Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Brookwood North Neighborhood Association, and Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors. For many years, Dick volunteered with Break Bread Together, delivering weekly meals to neighbors in need.

Dick was a devoted husband, father, teacher, and friend. He loved road trips to Saegerheim, the family cabin in the Pocono Mountains, cheering on the Green Bay Packers and Georgia Bulldogs, and singing everything from show tunes to Scandinavian folk songs.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church Valdosta on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christ Church Valdosta, the Valdosta State University Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, or the Alzheimer’s Association.