Andrew Newport Richardson

Andrew Newport Richardson, 63, of Nokomis, Florida, passed away in his sleep on November 8, 2016. He was healthy and happy right up to the end. Andy was born in Shelbyville, Illinois on June 24, 1953 to William D. and Frances N. Richardson. He attended Lake Forest College and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. In between his years at those schools he rode his 10-speed bicycle through Europe on a solo expedition. In 1975 he followed through on his longtime dream of being a submariner when he stopped in at a Naval recruitment center in a strip-mall and took an entrance exam. Upon seeing his score, the Navy knew that they found their man. Andy spent 26 years in submarines and the Nuclear Reactors Program, retiring as a CWO-4 in 2000. Andy was a musician of great talent, beginning his lifelong pursuit of fretboard mastery with a Silvertone guitar and amp in Junior High. After retirement, he played with 45 RPM in Idaho and The Cry'n Shames in Florida. He was a member of Sertoma, Mission Valley Country Club, and the Elks; a volunteer for The Florida Aquarium, a scuba instructor (specializing in training search and rescue divers for high altitude ice diving), an avid skier and golfer, and a deep thinker. He had an air of quiet authority about him and was generous with his time, talents, and resources. Survivors include his wife, Terri Richardson, stepchildren Andrew and Elizabeth Pomiak, brother Don (Mary Ellen) Richardson, sister Beth (Alan) Riley, nephew Dale Riley and niece Emmalyn Riley and her husband Zaki Sheikh. He was preceded in death by his parents. Graveside services with military honors will be held at Sarasota National VA Cemetery at 2:00PM on Friday, January 13, 2017. In lieu of flowers, Andy would be happy if you would all go do a good deed in his honor. Farley Funeral Home in Venice is handling the arrangements. Service Information Date: Friday, January 13, 2017 Time: 2:00 pm