Richard Grutzmacher

Richard Don "Dick" Grutzmacher died peacefully on March 29, 2026 at the age of 75 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He passed as he lived, with a quiet dignity and surrounded by family.

Raised in Palo Alto, California by a charming and witty mother from Alabama and a soft spoken, hard working engineer father from Kansas, Dick inherited their best qualities. Dick's initial choice of college was based on where the best surfing might be. However it was 1969, he had a low draft number and decided his efforts might be better placed pursuing graduate education. He enrolled at UC Berkeley where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Physiology and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He attended Northwestern Medical School in Chicago, graduating with honors, and then completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. It was there that he met his wife to be, Debbie. On their first date he told her he was leaving soon to start an Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Washington in Seattle. They were married a year later and soon started a family.

After his training at the University of Washington he was asked to stay on as a faculty member of the Medical School, but would need a year of additional training. Dick, Debbie and "Baby Douglas" were off to Adelaide, South Australia where Dick completed a Fellowship in Cornea at Flinders Medical Center. He returned to UW and became the Director of Cornea and Professor of Ophthalmology for 5 years until an opportunity to start a practice in Sacramento presented itself and the lure of year-round golf, skiing at Lake Tahoe and being close to family proved too strong.

In 1988 Dick joined forces with Rick Lewis and the specialty eye care practice Grutzmacher & Lewis was formed. That partnership grew into the present day Sacramento Eye Consultants that will soon have 7 doctors and 64 employees. In 1995 Dick performed the first laser eye surgery for vision correction in Sacramento. He went on to instruct numerous physicians in laser surgery techniques and is considered a pioneer and leader of laser eye surgery in the Sacramento valley region.

Dick was an avid skier and cyclist, but had an undying passion for golf. He played many of the best courses in the U.S. and abroad, including Spain, Ireland, England and Scotland. He was a past member at Silverado Country Club, El Macero Country Club, San Francisco Olympic Club and was a long time member at Del Paso Country Club. He attended many US Opens and the Masters twice.

He was preceded in death by parents Don and Frances, sister Gail and first cousin David Russell (Roll Tide). He is survived by his wife Deborah of 45 years, son Douglas (Claire), daughter Annie Machado (Gary), grandchildren Emilia, Theodore, Penelope, William and Chloe. He is also survived by brother in-law Edward Lopes of Sacramento and first cousins Ann Miller and Don Russell from Alabama.

The Grutzmacher and Machado families extend heartfelt thanks to our many friends and family who have helped us persevere these past 6 years. Much gratitude and love to our incredible caregiver Talica and her compassionate team of Nick, Pita and Junior to name a few.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 1040 39th Street in Sacramento on Tuesday, April 14th at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Sacred Heart School Foundation Fund (www.sacredheart.church) or the First Tee-Greater Sacramento (firstteesacramento.org)

Interment will be private. Arrangements entrusted into the care of W.F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Home.