Affinis Leader, Rick Worrel, Passes at Age 58

It is with heavy hearts that we share our co-founder, colleague, and friend Rick Worrel passed away on August 28, 2019. The thoughts and prayers of the whole Affinis team are with his family, including his wife Susan, their three daughters, three grandchildren, and his mother Betty.

Active in the community is an understatement of Rick’s enthusiasm for community service. Rick was a member and leader of numerous local and national organizations. Some of these included the American Council of Engineering Companies, United Community Services, the American Heart Association, Colonial Presbyterian Church, and the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. He was also an avid KU Basketball fan and former player. He loved a good-natured rivalry and looked forward to basketball season every year.

In writing this announcement, we struggled with putting into words what Rick means to us and the kind of person he was. Those who had the privilege of knowing him understand how monumental that task is. Rick was an engineer by degree, and he co-founded Affinis with the mission to create a firm that was different. In doing so, he thought of every detail. His teammates were always co-workers – never staff, and our mission, vision, and values were displayed not only on our office wall, but more importantly, in the way he treated each of us every single day. He led by example, and his absence is already deeply felt.

While the gap he leaves at Affinis is immeasurable, his leadership has prepared us for this challenge. He built a strong foundation, choosing co-workers who are leaders and who embody Affinis’s core values. We will carry out his legacy in each of our relationships with co-workers, clients, and colleagues, continuing to move communities forward, just as he did.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Rick may be made to the American Heart Association c/o Rick’s Legacy, 6800 W. 93rd St, Overland Park, KS, 66212 or online at https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/ricks-legacy or to the KU Endowment to support the School of Engineering by sending checks to KU Endowment, PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044; in the memo note “Civil and Environmental Engineering in memory of Richard Worrel.”

Full obituary and details about services can be found here.