Dick Distin: What Happened to Vivian Liberto’s Second Husband?

Dick Distin lived a quiet life. But he became part of a famous family. He was the second husband of Vivian Liberto. Vivian was the first wife of famous country singer Johnny Cash.

Many people know about Johnny and Vivian. But not many people know about Dick Distin. He was a police officer. He stayed away from fame. His life with Vivian was calm and private.

So who was Dick Distin? What did he do before meeting Vivian? Did he have children? Here we look at his early life. We also learn about his job and his marriage to Vivian.

Who Was Dick Distin?

Dick Distin’s full name was Richard Laurence Distin. He was not a singer or movie star. He worked as a police officer. He spent much of his adult life in California.

Most people know Dick because he married Vivian Liberto. But Dick had his own story too. He served in the U.S. Navy. He also had a family before he met Vivian.

Dick did not look for fame. He kept much of his life private. Because of this there are fewer public facts about him. Still his family records help us learn more about his story.

Dick Distin’s Early Life

Dick Distin was born on August 2 1937. His birthplace was Syracuse New York. His parents were Harold Distin and Ethel Rear Distin. Dick was the youngest child in his family.

He grew up with four older brothers and sisters. This made him one of five children. Not much is known about his childhood. He was not famous then so his early years stayed private.

Dick’s early life had no link to Johnny Cash. He was simply a young boy growing up in New York. He later left his home state and started a new life in California.

Dick Distin’s Education and Navy Life

Dick went to Syracuse Technical High School. After school he made a big choice. He joined the U.S. Navy. This was one of his first big steps as a young man.

There are few public facts about his time in the Navy. We do know that he served before moving to California. His Navy service was an important part of his early adult years.

After leaving the Navy Dick moved to California. He went to Ojai. His sister Shirley and her husband lived near there. California soon became a very important place in Dick’s life.

Dick Distin’s Police Career

Dick Distin later became a police officer. This job was very different from Johnny Cash’s work. Johnny sang songs and played shows. Dick worked in his local area and lived a much quieter life.

There are not many public facts about Dick’s police work. His exact rank is not clearly known. We also do not know every place where he worked. It is better to leave these facts unknown than make guesses.

His job still tells us something about him. Dick did not work in music or movies. He had a normal career. He spent most of his life away from cameras and large crowds.

Dick Distin’s First Wife and Children

Vivian Liberto was not Dick’s first wife. After moving to California Dick met Janet McEgan. They later got married. This was an important part of Dick’s life before he met Vivian.

Dick and Janet had three children. Their names were Tracy Brandy and Todd. Dick was already a father before he became Vivian’s husband. His marriage to Janet later came to an end.

This part of his story is important. Dick already knew what it was like to be a husband and father. When he later met Vivian both of them already had children from their first marriages.

How Dick Distin Met Vivian Liberto

Vivian had also been married before. She married Johnny Cash in 1954. They had four daughters together. Their daughters were Rosanne Kathy Cindy and Tara.

Johnny became a huge music star. He spent a lot of time away from home. His marriage with Vivian became hard. Vivian filed for divorce in 1966. She then stayed in California with their daughters.

Later Vivian met Dick Distin. Dick was a police officer and a father. Vivian was also starting a new life. The two became close. Soon they were ready to build a new life together.

Dick Distin and Vivian Liberto’s Marriage

Dick Distin and Vivian Liberto got married on January 11 1968. Their wedding took place in Las Vegas Nevada. After the wedding Vivian became known as Vivian Distin.

Life with Dick was different from Vivian’s life with Johnny. Dick was not famous. He did not travel around for music shows. Their life was more private and stayed away from the public eye.

Dick and Vivian lived in Ventura County California. They both already had children. Their marriage brought two families together. This new family would become an important part of Dick Distin’s life for many years.

Dick Distin as a Father and Stepfather

Dick Distin already had three children before he married Vivian. They were Tracy Brandy and Todd. Vivian also had four daughters from her marriage to Johnny Cash. They were Rosanne Kathy Cindy and Tara.

This made their home a large family. Dick became a stepfather to Vivian’s four girls. His obituary says he helped raise them. This was an important part of his life with Vivian.

Think about how big this change was. Both Dick and Vivian came from past marriages. Both had children. They had to bring two families together. They chose to start again and build a new home.

Dick Distin and Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash stayed part of the family story. He was the father of Vivian’s four daughters. This meant Dick Distin and Johnny had a family link even though they lived very different lives.

Johnny was one of the biggest names in country music. His life included songs and shows around the world. Dick worked as a police officer. He lived a much more private life in California.

Some people may wonder if Dick and Johnny had problems with each other. There is no good proof of a big fight between them. It is best not to make up drama when the true facts are not known.

Dick Distin’s Life After Vivian’s Death

Dick and Vivian spent many years together. Vivian stayed close to her children. She also took part in church and local groups. Her life with Dick was much more private than her years with Johnny.

Vivian died on May 24 2005 in Ventura California. She was 71 years old. She died after health problems linked to surgery for lung cancer. Her death ended a long and important part of Dick’s life.

Some older reports say Dick died in 1991. But this does not match his own later obituary. That record shows Dick was alive after Vivian died. It says he lived until 2019.

Dick Distin’s Third Marriage

Life did not stop for Dick after Vivian died. Some years later his daughter Brandy introduced him to a woman named Janiece Bulgin. The two got to know each other and became close.

Dick and Janiece later fell in love. They got married in 2009. Dick was in his early 70s at the time. It was another fresh start during the later years of his life.

This part of his story is often missed online. Many short stories about Dick end with Vivian. But he lived for many years after her death. His marriage to Janiece became part of his final chapter.

What Happened to Dick Distin?

Dick Distin died on January 29 2019. He was 81 years old. His obituary gives us many of the clear facts we now know about his life and family.

His death date is important because some sources list 1991. That date appears to be wrong. Dick lived through the 1990s and 2000s. He even married Janiece in 2009.

As of 2026 the best family record gives 2019 as his death year. This helps clear up a common mistake. It also shows why checking good records matters when reading stories about people online.

Final Thoughts

Dick Distin left behind a large family story. He had three children from his first marriage. He also helped raise Vivian’s four daughters. His life became linked with one of the best-known families in country music.

Still Dick never became a star himself. He worked as a police officer. He had served in the U.S. Navy when he was young. He seemed happy to keep his own life away from public fame.

That quiet life is a big part of his story. People may find Dick while reading about Vivian or Johnny Cash. But once we look closer we see that his own life had many chapters too.

(FAQs)

How old was Dick Distin and when was his birthday?

Dick Distin was born on August 2 1937. He died on January 29 2019 at age 81.

What was Dick Distin’s net worth?

Dick Distin’s net worth is not known. No trusted public record gives a clear amount. Claims about his wealth online should be treated with care.

Where is Dick Distin today and where did he live?

Dick Distin died in 2019. He was a long-time resident of Ventura California. He had moved to California after serving in the U.S. Navy.

What was Dick Distin’s ethnicity?

Dick Distin’s ethnicity is not clearly confirmed in trusted public records. His obituary names his parents but does not state his ethnic background.

What was Dick Distin’s nationality?

Dick Distin was American. He was born in Syracuse New York and later served in the U.S. Navy.

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