Richard M Traut

Richard M. Traut passed into the Lord’s hands on Sunday, January 26, 2025, in Burr Ridge, IL.  A former longtime Hinsdale resident. Richard was born in 1933 in Oak Park, IL, to Dr. Eugene Fagan Traut, and Wilma Wiseman Traut, one of their seven children. 

Richard "Dick" was an active young man playing many sports including football, basketball, baseball and running track as well as being expected to work during summers but also getting to regularly enjoy Lake Geneva Wisconsin.

After graduating from Oak Park River Forest High School having lettered and being a captain in three sports, he received a congressional appointment to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1951.

Upon graduation in 1955, Dick was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In 1956 Dick married Charron Follett of River Forest, a successful stage actress who worked professionally in both New York and Chicago.  After being honorably discharged from the army Dick worked for his uncle running road construction crews until his father-in-law pursued him to join the Follett family business and the couple moved to Hinsdale to raise their family.

At Follett Corporation, Dick began his career at the Follett College Book Company (FCBC) eventually becoming its president and growing it significantly with his team over 20 plus years. He then became Chairman over all of Follett Corporation and retired from that position in 1999.

Dick and Charron were very active at the Theatre of Western Springs over many years, she as an actress and he behind the scenes in many roles, including serving on their Board of Governors multiple times. Dick also established the Theatre of Western Springs Foundation in 2006. They had many many lifelong friends from the theatre. 

Dick, while not living his life as a military man, he very much believed in the motto of West Point “Duty, Honor, Country” and was known to have very high standards for himself and others but also for being an extremely considerate, kind and thoughtful person by not only his family and friends but also those he worked and did business with throughout out his life.

Richard M. Traut is survived by his children, Christopher D. (Lee) Traut and Sabrina T. (Patrick) Usher, his grandchildren, Benjamin and Catherine Traut, Alexandra, Samantha, James and Christopher Usher, his siblings, Julianna (Bob) Hummel, Mary (Gene) Sullivan, Sarah (David) McConnell, Martha (Tim) Onkka, as well as many nieces and nephews. Richard is preceded in death by his daughter, Victoria Anne Traut, his wife, Charron Follett Traut, his sister, Valerie (Edward) Lyon, and his brother, David (Rosemary) Traut. 

A visitation will be held on Friday January 31, 2025 from 10:00 AM until time of Funeral Mass11:00  at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 64 Norfolk Avenue, Clarendon Hills. Family and friends are invited to a celebration luncheon after the mass. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Foundation of the Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Avenue, Western Springs, IL 60558 would be appreciated. 

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