Richard Melvin Felman, a.k.a. Wolf man, died Jan. 22, after a several-year-long battle with cancer. Lifeguard sirens were heard during the early afternoon hours after Charlie, Felman’s longtime caregiver, found him.
Felman, a familiar face to residents of north Ocean Beach, was born in Kansas on Sept. 13, 1940. His family moved to San Diego during his elementary school years. Felman graduated from Point Loma High School in 1958 and went on to work as a welder in San Diego’s aviation industry. His omnipresence in the neighborhood made it difficult to be lonely. During a sidewalk encounter, neighbors could be regaled with sometimes earthy, but always interesting stories of a voyage to Central America aboard a tuna boat or his association with motorcycle clubs. Felman was fond of his membership in The Lords, following high school, which he described as a San Diego social group.
Felman was an avid reader, consumed boxes of books, would converse on a wide range of topics, possessed a stinging quick wit and valued his friends. Residents of the 5100 block of Muir Avenue express their appreciation to Charlie and Audrey Boeh, who looked after Felman during his final years, taking him to doctor’s appointments, arranging visits with his mother and inspiring us with their sustained compassion and service. Felman is survived by his brother, James of Riverside; his ex-wife, Carol; and a son, both of San Diego.