- Indianapolis Star - July 1, 1998
Attorney Richard Doyle battled youth smoking
Services for Richard D. Doyle, 67, South Bend, an attorney, former state legislator and anit-smoking activist wll be private.
He died June 29.
A graduate of DePaul University Law School, Mr. Doyle was an attorney for more that 30 years.
He also had served on the St. Joseph County Tax Adjustment Board and as a St. Joseph County deputy prosecuting attorney.
A Democrat, Mr. Doyle was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1970, representing District 8 in St. Jjoseph County for 10 years. He later served on the Indiana Parole Board until the early 1990s.
A man of strong will, Mr. Doyle fought a 23-year battle against cancer with a positive attitude, fierce determination and the support of his wife, Nancy Berg Doyle.
The couple were featured in a story in The Star and The News in 1996, and in it, Nancy Doyle talked about how his attitude helped keep his health problems from being a burden on their marriage. "It would have been different, I suppose, if he had been the type to feel sorry for himself - to say, "Woe is me" all the time," she said. "but he never did that."
Mr. Doyle's fight with cancer also incresed his determination to fight teen-age smoking, which he credited as the cause of his cancer.
He told The Star and The News that he began experimenting with cigarettes when he was 8 or 9. "I wanted to seem grown-up," he said.
He was smoking regularly by the time he was 15 but quit at age 30 when medical reports began to reveal the dangers of smoking. Five years later he resumed smoking again for about a year, and four years after that it was discovered he had cancer. Five surgeries left him without a jaw, tongue and teeth, but with the determination to fight tobacco addiction among the young.
In 1996, Rep. Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, introduced ligislation drafted by Mr. Doyle that would have allowed parents or gaurdians to sue anyone who sold tobacco products to their children. Althoug the bill died in committee, he remained hopeful that someone would introduce it again.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Other survivors: children Margaret Doyle Fitzpatrick, Martha C., Esther M., Monica R., Joseph R., James E., Charles E. Doyle, brothers Patrick, the Rev. Charles E, Thomas C., Jr, John Doyle; six grandchildren.
The Cremation Society of Indiana is handling arrangements.
Paper Unknown
Former state lawmaker Richard Doyle dies at 67
South Bend- Richard D. Doyle, a South Bend attorney and former state representative, died Monday at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis.
He was the victim of the mouth and throat cancer that had taken away his voice but not his determination to pursue that projects n mass transit and taxation reform that he advocated both during and after service in the Legislature.
Mr. Doyle, 67, served in the Indiana House for a decade, 1970-1980.
During his legislative career, he pushed concepts of mass transit and property tax reform which were often rejected at the time but later hailed as advances in trransportation and fairness in taxation.
Even legislative opponents of the South Bend Democrat often conceded that he probably was on the right course but"ahead of his time" in advocating changes for which the state was not yet ready.
Mr. Doyle was more successful in winning passage of other legislation on the state criminal code.
He also served on the Indiana State Parole Board.
A more recent cause was his effort to win support for legislation to curb teen-age smoking.
He said doctors attributed his mouth and throat cancer to years of smoking that began when he was sophomore in high school.
While a series of sugeries in which he lost his tongue and part of his jaw left him barely able to speak, he continued to write on causes about which he cared.
He continued his law practice and efforts to promote mass transit and other causes long after the time when doctors had told him his affliction would be fatal.
Mr. Doyle was born on March 26, 1931, in Nappanee. He received his law degree from DePaul University in Chicago.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy; four daughters, Margaret Doyle Fitzpatrick, Martha C. Doyle and Ester M. Doyle, all of Seattle, and Monica R. Doyle, Rockford, Ill.; and three sons, Joseph R. and James E. both of South Bend, and Charles E. of Cincinnati. Also surviving are four brother, John of Indianapolis, Patrick of Houston, Rev. Charles E. of Beverly Shores and Thomas C. Jr. of South Bend.
Private services will be at a later date. Memorial contribution may be made to any charity.
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1931 - 1998 (67 years)
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