Richard "Dick" Taliaferro Dasher

Dr. Richard “Dick” Taliaferro Dasher, 93, of St. Petersburg, passed away August 5, 2026, at Manatee Memorial Hospital after a short illness. Dick was born in Washington, D.C. on February 10, 1933, to Arthur and Gladys Ferreira Dasher, but later moved with his family to Florida, graduating in 1950 from Ft. Lauderdale High School. He then went on to the University of Miami, where he met his future wife, Betty Joan Keator, in the Hurricane Marching Band. They married in 1954 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg. Education and music were always central to the couple’s life. Dick graduated in 1955 with a degree in Bachelor of Music, and Betty graduated from the same institution the following year. He then joined the U.S. Army Band, where he played trumpet. In 1956 he received an award for composing the official march for the 588th Engineer Battalion. After an Honorable Discharge, Dick earned a degree in Master of Music from the University of Miami while teaching band at high schools in Florida. He eventually decided to earn his doctorate in Music Education, which he received from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Doctorate in hand, he obtained a job teaching music education at Edinboro State College in Pennsylvania. He rose to the position of Department Chair and directed the Jazz Band there for two years. For several years, he directed the Summer Arts Program at the college, bringing in people like Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Clark Terry, and other jazz greats. In addition, he wrote several music textbooks that were published by J Weston Walsh. After twenty years, he and Betty retired to St. Petersburg, where they both joined the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College. Dick and Betty enjoyed traveling around the world but when at home attended Trinity Lutheran Church. With an additional interest in history and wildlife conservation, they were enthusiastic supporters of such groups as Colonial Williamsburg, the World Wildlife Foundation, and the Jacques Cousteau Society. Dick was also known for his love of family, books, and puns. He was preceded in death by his beloved Betty; by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Charles and Alice Keator; and by two nieces Susan and Elaine. He is survived by son Richard and daughter-in-law Donna; daughter Katherine Mower and husband Ron; son Rande and daughter-in-law Sharon; son Ken and daughter-in-law Melissa; grandchildren Corinne Dasher Pyle, Ryan Dasher,  Katie Mower and fiancé Lucas Airhart, Tyler Mower and wife Emily, Cass Dasher, Mandy Dasher Moss and husband Jake, Nicholas Dasher, Lillian Dasher and fiancé Joshua DeLuca, and Chloe Dasher; great-grandchildren Lily Pyle, Sage Mower, and Eloise, Joel, Zane, and Roman Moss; nephew Fred Keator; and niece Eileen Keator. A memorial service will be held at Anderson McQueen Funeral Home in St. Petersburg at noon on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.