Richard Herman Unfried

Richard Unfried was born Tuesday, September 4th, 1934 at a small facility in Los Angeles, California. At age 7 he began taking piano lessons. In his freshman year at Inglewood High School in South Central LA Richard was one of a small group of students chosen to take an organ class offered by the school for talented keyboard players. He humorously attributed his selection to the fact that he was dating the department chair’s daughter at the time. His senior recital at Inglewood was a full-length memorized program, a feat that won him the prestigious Bank of America Fine Arts Award and a full-ride to study music at USC.

Shortly after graduating from USC in 1956, Richard married his life partner Yvonne Clingerman as he began studying for a Master of Music at USC. Before receiving his masters degree Richard would begin teaching organ performance as an instructor at Biola College. After becoming an associate professor in 1960, he taught organ performance for over three decades at what is now Biola University before retiring.

After serving in several congregations throughout the 1950s, Richard was appointed the second senior organist at Garden Grove Community Church, later becoming the first organist of both Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power and the Crystal Cathedral. Richard followed his time at the Crystal Cathedral serving as organist at San Marino Community Church and his final position at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton. During his career as both a concert and recording artist, Richard served in several local and regional leadership positions involving the National Council of the American Guild of Organists, including Dean of the Orange County Chapter from 1976-1978.

Richard spent four decades as both a pipe organ builder and consultant. Richard’s partnership with best friend Gordon Borror, Unfried-Borror Pipe Organ Builders, produced six rebuilt organs and five new builds, including two within walking distance of his home.

Richard passed quietly at home in his sleep, just as he wanted. He is pre-deceased by his wife Yvonne and his grandsons Christian and Andrew. He is survived by his two sons, David and Tom, daughters in-law Kitty and Tina, granddaughter Tara, and great-grandchildren Charlotte and Samuel.