The senior Alm was the editor of the prestigious national academic periodical The English Journal for 10 years as well as the author and editor of numerous books.

"I learned the expression 'You do things for love' when he was editor of the journal," said Steve Alm, the former U.S. attorney for Hawai'i. "He and my mother would sit there with the galley proofs on their knees going over everything, and they did this virtually every evening for 10 years.

"These were the days before faxes, so we'd get special-delivery galley proofs all the time at the house. High school English teachers were their audience, and people all over the country would submit articles. I'd ask him, 'Are you getting paid?' and he'd say, 'No, it's for love, to help the profession do better.' Money was never all that important. (They believed) you've got to do the right thing for the community."

During Alm's years at the university, he also launched what became known as "The Reading Clinic" that lasted almost 30 years, diagnosing and helping more than 1,200 public school students with reading problems.

"It was to provide help for children who were having problems in reading," said Kelvin Young, one of the master's degree students Alm mentored who went on to teach at the university, and who eventually took over the clinic's work when Alm retired.

"Usually parents would call in if their children had reading problems, and the clinic would provide specific instruction to overcome the problems they were having. Teachers getting their master's and doctorates would assist. A lot of the people who later on became some of the top-notch teachers in the field were the ones who finished their degrees with him in reading and language arts."

Along with helping children, the clinic trained many hundreds of student teachers, who then took their skills into Hawai'i public schools to help other struggling young readers.

Dick Alm was born in Minneapolis in 1921. He was educated at the University of Minnesota, where he received his bachelor of science, master's and doctoral degrees. He met his wife, Julie, there and they came to Hawai'i in 1951 from the Seattle public school system so he could become part of the Teachers College. She later joined the College of Education faculty at the university in 1956 and retired in 1984 as associate dean of education.

"When people hear our name, they often ask if we're related to Dick and Julie," Robbie Alm said. "When we say 'yes,' we have the awesome experience of hearing over and over again what great teachers and mentors they were to the teachers of Hawai'i. ... Dad always said that teaching was a special and honorable profession that needed to be accorded great respect and dignity."

And Young tells the story of several times when the two attended national education conventions.

"There was a fellow who would always say 'Dick, you're a national treasure.' He'd bellow out this statement and Dick would be so embarrassed. And we'd run into him often."

Alm was active in professional organizations such as the International Reading Association, Ka Hui Heluhelu and as a retiree volunteered with Hospice Hawai'i. Donations may be made in his memory to Hospice Hawai'i.

Besides his two sons, Robert and Steven, he is survived by three grandchildren, Kristin, Chris and Rachel. Private services were held.