St. Lawrence University mourns the loss of Richard "Dick" Metcalf, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, Hall of Famer and three-sport standout whose service to Saints athletics and the University spanned a 40-year career as a coach, administrator and faculty member.

Metcalf passed away Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. He was 85.

Born March 24, 1941, in Schenectady, Metcalf graduated from Liverpool High School before enrolling at St. Lawrence, where he earned his undergraduate and master's degrees. He quickly emerged as a key member of the freshman teams and became a varsity standout as a sophomore.

On the football field, Metcalf quarterbacked the Saints to their best record in a decade in 1961, setting 11 passing records and rushing for 110 yards. He held the program record for career completions after three varsity seasons.

In basketball, he was a three-year starter at forward and a co-captain as both a junior and senior. He was the team's Most Improved Player as a sophomore. A catcher in baseball, he hit better than .300 as a junior while leading the team in hits and runs batted in. His career earned him the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award.

It was at St. Lawrence that he met his future wife, Katherine Lyons. After graduation, Metcalf coached the freshman football, basketball and baseball teams before a four-year break from Canton to pursue his doctorate. The couple married and settled in Morgantown, West Virginia, where Metcalf taught sociology and earned his doctorate in education from West Virginia University. They then made Canton their home.

Metcalf returned to St. Lawrence and built a career defined by its breadth. He worked in admissions, served as an academic advisor and taught in the Sport and Leisure Studies department, which he chaired for many years. He also served as an assistant coach in football, basketball and softball and sat on numerous University committees.

In 2004, Metcalf was inducted into the St. Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame, joining his brother in the same class. He was also a member of the Liverpool High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

His dedication to students, colleagues and Canton will be dearly missed by many in the St. Lawrence community.

Dick is survived by his children Cara (Kenneth '91) Polk and Matthew (Meg) Metcalf, his grandchildren Mitchell, Jordan and Leah Polk and Abigail, Katharine and Elizabeth Metcalf, and his brother Gerald (Lonnie) Metcalf. He was predeceased by his wife, Katherine, his parents, George and Erma (Kimmey) Metcalf, and his sister, Judith Frazier.

An open house honoring Dick will be held on Saturday, November 28 from 1-4 p.m. at 30 Judson Street in Canton.  This will serve as an informal period for anyone who knew Dick to drop in and share some food, drinks, and memories.