Last year, during SAF Amelia Island 2015, Seaboldt was honored with the 2015 Tommy Bright Award.
A beloved floral industry member, celebrated presenter and designer died March 13.
Richard Seaboldt, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, entertained, educated and surprised audiences for five decades. A risk-taker and true artist, Seaboldt was heralded for his ability to push the bounds of what is possible in design — particularly when marrying concepts from the floral and culinary worlds — but he also was revered as a person dedicated to sharing his deep well of knowledge and committed to helping those in need, often through unheralded acts of kindness.
Last year, during SAF Amelia Island 2015, Seaboldt was honored for lifetime achievement in floral presentation as the recipient of the 2015 Tommy Bright Award, presented by SAF’s Professional Floral Communicators – International (PFCI).
During the awards ceremony, PFCI Chairman Lisa Weddel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of L. Weddel Design in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, praised Seaboldt as “funny, exciting, and even feisty.”
“Colleagues note Richard’s passion, charm and enthusiasm,” she said last year, “and cite what an inspiration he has been to audiences around the world.”
During his lifetime, Seaboldt and his partner, Robert Salsman, owned a number of successful businesses in the Midwest, including fine dining establishments, catering companies and flower and gift shops. Seaboldt himself began his career with Schnell’s Florist in Fayette, Missouri. Upon arriving in Kansas City, he secured a position as a manager of Liesveld’s Florist. He spent 10 years there before moving to manage Trapp & Co.’s Crown Center operation. In 1975, he opened his own store, R.V. Seaboldt’s Custom Florist.
Sixteen years later, Seaboldt embarked upon yet another exciting journey when he closed R.V. Seaboldt’s and opened Poor Richard’s, a business that allowed him to concentrate on the intersection of his many loves and talents — including floral design, antiques, gourmet cooking and party planning and special events — and one of the most progressive industry businesses of its time.
As Jo Ellen Schwanke, AAF, NAFD, PFCI, winner of the 2003 Tommy Bright Award, explained: “Richard was doing special events before special events was a buzzword.”
As a presenter, Seaboldt traveled the world and engaged thousands of people with his one-of-a-kind speaking style and penchant for both high drama and lighthearted whimsy on stage: He once created a “sandcastle” made entirely of brown sugar while the audience watched, delighted. Seaboldt also ensured that each of his presentations reinforced best practices and principles of design, underscoring the talents and abilities of professional florists and floral designers.
A supporter of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) for more than 35 years, Seaboldt was a national board member for the group for four years and designed more than 10 programs for the organization’s Regional and National Symposia.
He was a board member and president of AIFD’s South Central Region for eight years and started the group’s “Friends in Need” program to help fellow members. He also was a member of the AIFD Foundation board and, for many years, served as auctioneer extraordinaire for the popular fundraising auction, rallying AIFD members to support the foundation through thousands and thousands of dollars in donated funds. In 2014, AIFD presented Seaboldt with its Award of Distinguished Service to the Floral Industry.
Beyond AIFD, Seaboldt was a past president of Missouri State Florists Association, a former board member of NEMOKAN and member of the American Floral Services’ Education Team. Among many other community roles, he was on the advisory board of the Rose Brooks Center, which provides emergency support services to women and children, and founded the “Gourmet Gala” in Kansas City to benefit the March of Dimes.
An avid antique collector, Seaboldt had an expansive collection of Santa Claus toys and figurines, which was once displayed at the Kansas City Museum and featured in Smithsonian magazine.
Seaboldt majored in art education at Northeast Missouri State College and the University of Missouri and was once a commercial artist for the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Survivors include Seaboldt’s Salsman; brothers, Eldon Seaboldt, Eugene Seaboldt; sister, Jane Corzette and families; dog “Scamper” and a host of friends.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
