Walter Richar, M.D.
February 20, 1923 — December 20, 2017
Dr. Walter “Pop-Pop” Richar of Stamford passed away peacefully at his home on December 20, 2017, with family by his side.
The only child of the late Walter and Winifred Richar, Walter was born on February 20, 1923 in Penn Yan, NY. In 1930, his family moved to Lyndhurst, NJ, and he graduated from Lyndhurst High School in 1940. For several years, he played violin with the NJ Symphony Orchestra. Walter attended Columbia University, and enlisted in the Navy in 1943 where he continued his education at Cornell Medical School. He graduated in 1946 and began interning at Stamford Hospital as a surgeon.
It was there, that he met Margaret, who had just completed nurses training. They started “going steady” soon after and visited each other frequently while Walter did a two-year stint at the St. Albans Naval Hospital in Jamaica, NY. As a Lieutenant (jg), Walter retired from the Navy in 1949 and returned to the Stamford Hospital as a resident in Pathology. On November 19th of that year, Margaret and Walter were married.
They were blessed with 3 sons – Thomas (1951), Peter (1954), and James (1957). In 1952, they moved to Wallack’s Point, in Stamford, where they lived the rest of their lives. Walter was passionately involved with his family. He taught everyone he knew the power of laughter, and the joy of sitting around a table, or, more typically, on the floor, playing games for hours on end. If no games were available, he’d make one up. Walter and Margaret both did a lot of volunteer work, and were especially involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Walter and his sons were also very involved with the church and volunteered as vestry members and ushers for years. Walter loved marine biology, and dedicated a room (the Fish room) in their Stamford house to his hobby. At one time, there were several 55-gallon salt-water aquariums set up where he had fish, eels, crabs (which occasionally escaped), lobsters, and even a baby sand shark. He also loved reading and writing. He wrote books for each of his sons on their 40th birthdays commemorating their individual lives and was still working on his latest book, about the Pilgrims, when he passed away.
The entire family had a love affair with Cape Cod and vacationed there every summer since 1950 with as much family as they could bring. In 1984, Walter and Margaret bought a home in East Sandwich where new generations of Richars can relive old memories, go whelking, and create new memories of their own.
In 1988, after 40 years, Walter retired from his job as Pathologist at the Stamford Hospital. Along with Margaret, the next 25 years were spent making numerous trips to their Cape house, as well as traveling back and forth to their son’s homes to visit them and their treasured grandchildren, listen to their concerts, play games, watch their dance recitals, attend their graduations, see them perform with HS and college marching bands, be present for their weddings, and smile like you wouldn’t believe at the arrival of their great-grandchildren.
Walter’s mind was always sharp. Even in his final days, while wearing his infamous pocket-T-shirts, he continued to tell stories, play games with the youngest great-grandkids, argued politics, and just made everyone laugh. His positive attitude, love of music, warm heart, incredible sense of humor, and unconditional love for his family and friends will be deeply missed.
Walter was predeceased by Margaret, his beloved wife of 63 years in 2012. He is survived by his three sons and their wives. Tom and Diane Richar of Long Valley, NJ, Peter and Cindy Richar of Clinton, CT, and Jim and Kim Richar of Penfield, NY. Additionally, he and Margaret were blessed with 7 grandchildren (Jennifer, Douglas, Tara, Christine, Heather, Derek, and Michelle), 9 great-grandchildren (Emma, Sophie, Conner, Gavin, Charlotte, Madison, Eviana, Katie and Jacob), 2 great-great-grandchildren (Christopher and Jay), and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 628 Main Street, Stamford, CT at noon on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Woodland Place, Stamford, CT. Calling hours for family and friends will take place at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT from 5:00-8:00 PM on Friday, Jan 12, 2018.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, c/o The Masonic Charity Foundation of CT, 74 Cheshire Rd, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492 or through their website at www.masonicare.org/mcf.
Please leave on-line condolences by visiting www.cognetta.com.
The only child of the late Walter and Winifred Richar, Walter was born on February 20, 1923 in Penn Yan, NY. In 1930, his family moved to Lyndhurst, NJ, and he graduated from Lyndhurst High School in 1940. For several years, he played violin with the NJ Symphony Orchestra. Walter attended Columbia University, and enlisted in the Navy in 1943 where he continued his education at Cornell Medical School. He graduated in 1946 and began interning at Stamford Hospital as a surgeon.
It was there, that he met Margaret, who had just completed nurses training. They started “going steady” soon after and visited each other frequently while Walter did a two-year stint at the St. Albans Naval Hospital in Jamaica, NY. As a Lieutenant (jg), Walter retired from the Navy in 1949 and returned to the Stamford Hospital as a resident in Pathology. On November 19th of that year, Margaret and Walter were married.
They were blessed with 3 sons – Thomas (1951), Peter (1954), and James (1957). In 1952, they moved to Wallack’s Point, in Stamford, where they lived the rest of their lives. Walter was passionately involved with his family. He taught everyone he knew the power of laughter, and the joy of sitting around a table, or, more typically, on the floor, playing games for hours on end. If no games were available, he’d make one up. Walter and Margaret both did a lot of volunteer work, and were especially involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Walter and his sons were also very involved with the church and volunteered as vestry members and ushers for years. Walter loved marine biology, and dedicated a room (the Fish room) in their Stamford house to his hobby. At one time, there were several 55-gallon salt-water aquariums set up where he had fish, eels, crabs (which occasionally escaped), lobsters, and even a baby sand shark. He also loved reading and writing. He wrote books for each of his sons on their 40th birthdays commemorating their individual lives and was still working on his latest book, about the Pilgrims, when he passed away.
The entire family had a love affair with Cape Cod and vacationed there every summer since 1950 with as much family as they could bring. In 1984, Walter and Margaret bought a home in East Sandwich where new generations of Richars can relive old memories, go whelking, and create new memories of their own.
In 1988, after 40 years, Walter retired from his job as Pathologist at the Stamford Hospital. Along with Margaret, the next 25 years were spent making numerous trips to their Cape house, as well as traveling back and forth to their son’s homes to visit them and their treasured grandchildren, listen to their concerts, play games, watch their dance recitals, attend their graduations, see them perform with HS and college marching bands, be present for their weddings, and smile like you wouldn’t believe at the arrival of their great-grandchildren.
Walter’s mind was always sharp. Even in his final days, while wearing his infamous pocket-T-shirts, he continued to tell stories, play games with the youngest great-grandkids, argued politics, and just made everyone laugh. His positive attitude, love of music, warm heart, incredible sense of humor, and unconditional love for his family and friends will be deeply missed.
Walter was predeceased by Margaret, his beloved wife of 63 years in 2012. He is survived by his three sons and their wives. Tom and Diane Richar of Long Valley, NJ, Peter and Cindy Richar of Clinton, CT, and Jim and Kim Richar of Penfield, NY. Additionally, he and Margaret were blessed with 7 grandchildren (Jennifer, Douglas, Tara, Christine, Heather, Derek, and Michelle), 9 great-grandchildren (Emma, Sophie, Conner, Gavin, Charlotte, Madison, Eviana, Katie and Jacob), 2 great-great-grandchildren (Christopher and Jay), and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 628 Main Street, Stamford, CT at noon on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Woodland Place, Stamford, CT. Calling hours for family and friends will take place at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT from 5:00-8:00 PM on Friday, Jan 12, 2018.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, c/o The Masonic Charity Foundation of CT, 74 Cheshire Rd, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492 or through their website at www.masonicare.org/mcf.
Please leave on-line condolences by visiting www.cognetta.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter Richar, M.D., please visit our flower store.