Richard Pajuelo

Richard Pajuelo, age 67, of Atlanta Georgia passed away on Saturday 7/13/2024.
Richard was born on 5/20/1957 in Lima, Peru to Dr Alfonso Toribio Pajuelo and Jean Madill Pajuelo from Callao, Peru and Peekskill, NY respectively.
Richard studied at Colegio Santa Maria in Lima, Peru.
He had an extraordinary talent for learning languages. He learned French by listening to tapes. He was able to articulate French words like a French citizen.  He had a great memory for faces and people's names, especially friends, family members and other acquaintances.
He had a passion for history, planes and architecture. He liked building and painting model planes and architectural models of cities with roads, cars and other structures. He ran a gift store in Peru for a few years. When his mom edited a cookbook for The American Women’s Literary Club in Lima, Richard wrote and published a historical article.
Richard struggled with mental illness from the age of 5 years.  After repeating 7th grade, the school priest and teacher told his dad that Richard could not continue at school, and he should seek psychiatric help. His Mom had him hospitalized where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Richard, encouraged by his mom to live independently, moved into a small apartment at Rosalyn Apartments in his forties. He enjoyed living there because of the neighbors, the services, and its convenience to church and Aldi's (when he was able to walk a few miles). Living independently had some struggles.  Richard had impressive social skills, for example he made friends with many people at church and had a long list of contacts that he would write or call.
Richard was always dependable. When he had appointments, he was ready an hour before time to be picked up.  He loved meeting people and helping those in need. He volunteered at St Vincent de Paul and NAMI DeKalb support meetings. He participated in NAMI Dekalb support meetings and the yearly NAMI Walks fundraiser. Richard’s favorite activities were attending church, volunteering, doing art projects, building and painting model planes, writing, walking, exercising and socializing with family and church members at gatherings.
His time at IMH was special. Ed from the church was a helpful and caring friend who took him to services and brought him food. Even at the hospital, Richard contacted Deacon Eric to pray and visit him. His friend Angela from NAMI was a great help to him.      
He bravely struggled throughout his life with his schizophrenia but was able to live independently because of the support a loving family, friends, church, NAMI and other mental health organizations gave him. HE WILL BE MISSED!
Richard was predeceased by his father Dr. Alfonso Pajuelo, his mother Jean Madill Pajuelo, his uncle John R Madill and his aunt Marjorie Madill as well as Cousins Julia Dougherty and Nancy Madill. As well as other aunts, uncles and cousins. 
Richard is survived by brother Felipe Pajuelo, and sister Elizabeth Roderick and brother-in-law James Roderick. Cousins Helen and David Pirkle, William Pirkle, Candi (Pirkle) and Eric Gonzales, Olivia Gonzales, Jeff Madill, Wendy Madill, Joe Dougherty,  Nellie Dougherty, Maura (Dougherty) and Stephen Sell, Jamieson Sell and Brody Oliver Sell.
Viewing will be held at Fischer Funeral Care, 3742 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341 on Friday, July 19th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.    Services (Mass) will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (IHM), 2855 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 on Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 PM and internment to follow at around 3:30 PM at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt Vernon Hwy NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.
In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests donations to 3Keys (dedicated to ending homelessness and operating Rosalynn Apartments for those with mental illness, where Richard lived): website www.the3keys.org
NAMI DeKalb:
website www.namidekalb.org:
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (IMH):
website Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church | Atlanta, GA (ihmatlanta.org)

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