Roger Hugh Richardson

Roger H. Richardson of Thiells, NY, passed away peacefully at home on July 30. The cause was heart failure. Roger was born on June 21, 1938 in Ogdensburg, NY, to Worth and Marjorie (Stephenson) Richardson, and grew up on the St. Lawrence River before heading to Le Moyne College in Syracuse, where he pitched on the baseball team and played soccer. Roger’s strong interest in the fields of physics and mathematics led him to earn a PhD in Physics from Fordham University in 1969. He felt privileged to spend fifty-five years in teaching, including at Fordham Prep and Manhattan College. Thirty-three of those years were at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY, where he was known and loved as “Doc”. He taught summers and nights at many local colleges and for the last ten years taught astronomy and labs part-time at Fordham University. He also enjoyed doing informal research in physics and math. Roger is survived by Ann, his loving wife of fifty-two years, and by their six dear children: Susan and husband Luis Sinchi, Judith and husband Gavin Jones, Ruth and husband Benjamin Sterrett, Sarah Warren and husband Seth, Roger M. and wife Phyllis, Matthew and wife Jin. He also leaves behind fourteen cherished grandchildren. Roger spent many hours supporting local youth at the Haverstraw Little League and at the North Rockland Soccer Assn., where he served on the board for many years. He enjoyed golf, playing bridge and lively political discussion. He was musically talented with a fine singing voice. A devoted parishioner at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church, he was a man of faith and humility. He was also a man of insufferable puns. He will be greatly missed. Visitation will be at T.J. McGowan Sons Funeral Home (tjmcgowansonsfh.com), 71 N. Central Highway, Garnerville, NY 10923, on Thursday, August 2, from 2-4 & 6:30-9pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church, 21 Cinder Rd., Garnerville, on Friday, August 3, at 10am, with interment following at Mt. Repose Cemetery, Haverstraw NY. In Roger’s honor a gift may be made to the Msgr. Darby Scholarship Fund (for students attending the elementary school at St. Gregory’s), c/o St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish, 21 Cinder Rd., Garnerville NY 10923.