Richard Charles Dilmore, 58, teacher

Richard Charles Dilmore, 58, of Runnemede, a Somerdale Park School teacher who enjoyed organizing fund-raisers and class trips, died Wednesday at his home following a kidney infection.

After teaching math for 30 years, Mr. Dilmore had been thinking about retiring, his family said. But he couldn't do it.

"Teaching was his passion," said his niece Karen Dilmore.

Mr. Dilmore also enjoyed helping students with whatever they needed, including fund-raising for the annual eighth-grade trip.

Having taught some of the parents and other relatives of current students, Mr. Dilmore was an institution at the school and in the community, principal Kristine Height said. He was in his 32d year at the school.

On Thursday, grief counselors were at the school for students and staff members. Students spent the day writing cards and notes to put on a banner in Mr. Dilmore's memory.

Height said the notes included "Who is going to be funny in the school now?" and "We all know he's teaching math in heaven."

During a briefing Thursday, Height said, a staff member put it best by saying the Somerdale community had "lost a pillar of our school and a brick of our whole foundation."

Mr. Dilmore had nicknames for all his students, and as seventh- and eighth-grade class adviser, he helped them raise the money they needed for class trips or other class events, Height said.

"He would put a note on the board: 'Macho owes $5,' " Height said.

Mr. Dilmore was born in Camden, but lived in the same home on West Third Avenue his entire life.

At 12, he was found to have juvenile diabetes, and he had health problems throughout his life. But his family said he never complained or talked about his health. At 48, he received a kidney and pancreas transplant.

Mr. Dilmore graduated from Triton Regional High School in 1968 and received an associate's degree from Gloucester County College two years later.

When he was 27, Mr. Dilmore received his teaching certificate and soon afterward started working at Somerdale Park.

He lived with his parents and until recently was taking care of his father.

On the weekends, Mr. Dilmore would go to yard sales looking for clocks to add to his collection, and other antiques.

The Dilmore household is full of banjo and cuckoo clocks, his favorites, his niece said, adding that the house looks like a scene from Hook.

During summer breaks, Mr. Gilmore would go to Cape May to relax.

In addition to his father, George, Mr. Gilmore is survived by a brother, also George.

A viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 5, at Gardner Funeral Home, 126 S. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede. A funeral service will follow at the funeral home.

Donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1415 Route 70 E., Suite 502, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08034.