Richard Francis Oles, a retired fencing coach at the Johns Hopkins University, died early Thursday at Baltimore-Washington Medical Center after being struck by a vehicle as he walked along Mountain Road in Pasadena, near his home. He was 77.
Born in Baltimore and raised on Rokeby Road in Hunting Ridge, he was a 1951 graduate of Loyola High School. That year, he also earned a degree from the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory Department, where he studied piano. He earned a bachelor of science degree at Hopkins. He also served in the Army.
In a 2009 Catholic Review article, Mr. Oles recalled walking across the Homewood campus and being intrigued by the sound of tapping swords. He soon took up fencing.
"Long a fan of Errol Flynn and other swashbucklers from the movies, Oles decided to join the team. It wouldn't take long before he more than matched the skills of the swordsmen of the silver screen," the article said.
Mr. Oles, who friends said devoted his life to fencing, went on to become a respected coach. In 1957, he became the school's assistant coach and three years later became coach, a post he held until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Oles was inducted into the John Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
"It became clear early on that he was going to be an exceptional fencer. He became an even better fencing coach," said a Hopkins classmate, Robert Erlandson, who became a Baltimore Sun reporter.
Mr. Oles was a member of the 1970 U.S. team that won the World Masters championship.
"He resembled the actor George Peppard," said Ramon E. Matthews, a longtime fencing associate who lives in Baltimore. "He could be stern, and he liked things done a certain way, the right way. And when he smiled, you would appreciate it."
In 1961, Mr. Oles established the Tri-Weapon Boys' Club at the old Central YMCA to train teens in the sport. He founded the Salle Palasz, a club for adult fencers. At his death, he was directing both clubs. Family members said they hope the clubs will continue.
"A good fencer must observe, out-think, outwit and finally outmaneuver an opponent he has never seen before, all the while moving along a narrow strip, in the space of only three or four minutes," he said in a 1964 Sun article.
When he retired, he "just wanted to walk away quietly from Johns Hopkins after 45 years of coaching. No fanfare, no going-away parties, and no retirement announcements," a Sun article said.
While at Hopkins, Mr. Oles modeled for renowned Sun photographer A. Aubrey Bodine for a shot called "Duel at Dawn."
"I loved the photo and hung it on my wall for many years," said the photographer's daughter, Jennifer Bodine, who lives near Denton.
At his retirement, Mr. Oles had produced 12 NCAA champions, U.S. National Open champions and U.S. Olympic team members. His Tri-Weapon Boys' Club turned out four national youth champions.
"His strength as a coach was turning novices into excellent fencers," the Sun article said.
Mr. Oles, who held the title of fencing master, remained active in the sport and taught several times a week.
"He was still fit and still giving lessons," said Ray Gordon, a fellow fencer who lives in Carney. "He had a facility for having full recall of the details of a match."
Mr. Oles was also a member of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. Family members said he realized a life dream by qualifying as a streetcar operator. He also had an interest in 3-D movies and went to annual conventions in California.
His family name had originally been Olszewski, and he retained close ties to Fells Point and the Polish community where his grandfather Krymski operated a furniture store. He also had close ties to Pasadena, where another grandfather built an early house on Long Point.
Mr. Oles was interested in genealogy and assembled a family history. He wrote to his Polish relatives in their native language.
"He overcame a childhood stutter and was careful and deliberate about what he said," said a niece, Kathy Oles Martin of Catonsville. "He also sang folk music and accompanied himself on the ukulele."
A memorial for the fencing community will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 201 Homeland Ave., where he had his fencing room.
Survivors include eight other nieces and nephews.