Richard Allen St. Denis, 70, of Santiago Casandejé, Mexico and San Diego, CA, founder of a wheelchair donation non-profit and U.S. Air Force veteran, died at a hospital in Toluca, Mexico on August 21, 2025. Richard is survived by his wife, Daniela Segundo, his sister, Michelle (St. Denis) Fox and her husband, David of Lewes, DE, and his sister-in-law, Janet St. Denis of Gibsonia, PA. He also leaves his nephews and niece, Brian, Richard, Danielle, Eric and Dylan. Richard was predeceased by his beloved parents, Gerald C. St. Denis, Sr. and Bernadette (Allen) St. Denis, and his brother, Gerald C. St. Denis, Jr.

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Richard was born December 22, 1954 in St. Petersburg, FL and was adopted as a baby by his devoted parents. He grew up in various states before his family settled in Glenshaw, PA. He graduated from Shaler Area High School in 1972 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a mechanic and CrewChief, stationed at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand.

 

In 1976, after serving nearly four years in the military, Richard’s life completely changed. In a skiingaccident in Lake Tahoe, he broke his back, severed his spinal cord, and lost the ability to walk at 21years old. Following months of rehabilitation, Richard bravely picked up the pieces of his life and attended the University of Pittsburgh, then left his home town to finish his Bachelor's degree in Psychology/English Literature at the University of Miami. There, Richard enjoyed being a member of the fraternity, Sigma Chi, and was recently honored with its lifetime achievement award. He ultimatelyearned his law degree from Nova Southeastern University Law School and became a successful attorney in the Broward County Public Defender’s Office.

 

During these years, Richard found strength and fulfillment through his profound Christian faith, wheelchair athletics, like the Steel Wheelers basketball team and several 10K races, as well as Paralympics weightlifting competitions. He was a gifted athlete, winning many accolades and medals.

 

He moved to Breckinridge, CO in the 1990s and built his thriving family law practice. Richard still had a passion for skiing, so he began using a seated mono-ski and competed on the US Disabled Ski Team. He volunteered at the Breckinridge Outdoor Education Center, helping others with disabilities learn to mono-ski. Richard was also a fierce advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, working with the Denver chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America and lobbying for legislative changes.

 

In 1997, Richard started volunteering with the Mobility Project to donate wheelchairs and other equipment in Mexico, and the seed of beginning his own wheelchair donation ministry was planted. In 2007, he decided to live in Mexico full time and then founded his non-profit organization, World Access Project in 2009. Since then, through Richard’s tireless efforts, his non-profit has provided mobility, athletic programs, and a better quality of life for impoverished people with disabilities inMexico. Richard humbly accepted the 2011 CNN Hero award for his courageousachievements, crediting his powerful faith in God to rise above life’s obstacles and serve others.

 

The St. Denis family would like to express our love, admiration, and pride for Richard and his selfless determination to empower disadvantaged people in this world. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.