Gerhard George Richter

Our dear father, Gerard Richter, passed away on Tuesday, July 21, in the house that he lovingly built for his family, at the age of 85. Gerard was a dedicated man whose first priority was always his family. He was married to his one true love, Judy, for almost 59 years. He is survived by his son, Tim, daughter-in-law Bonnie, and their sons, Joey and Ryan. He is also survived by his daughter, Katherine, her partner Bob, and her children, Toby and Katie. He will also be missed by several nephews, extended family, and dear friends.

He knew that he wanted to be a carpenter at an early age and spent his career running his own contracting business. His woodworking talents resulted in beautiful kitchens, renovations, clever solutions to everyday problems, and the detailed woodwork in his passion project - his Econoline Van that he brought to car shows. He and his van brought joy to so many people; children especially loved climbing in and sitting on the bed. He won numerous awards for his unique and handmade vehicle.

Gerard was also an avid stock car racing fan. He worked in the pit with the Ricci Racing team for years, and could often be found in his barn working on a car or an engine of some sort, including his WWII jeeps. He was a longtime Ford man and counted his pickup trucks as one of the many blessings in his life. He also served his community as a member of the St. Remy Fire Department.

In November of 2002, Judy suffered a brain aneurysm. Gerard took care of her at home for 12 years, an enormous act of love that made her life that much richer for so long. She was able to be comfortable at home and have visits with her kids and grandkids. After she entered a nursing home in 2015, he steadfastly went to visit her every day that he could.

While we are sad to not have Gerard in our lives anymore, we are also grateful that he is free now to be with his beloved Judy for eternity. There never was a truer love than the love they had for each other. It wasn't easy - they both had their moments - and the road was far from smooth. But Gerard's devotion to Judy, especially in their last 20 years together, is humbling. May we all hope to live up to his selfless actions.

A memorial service for Judy and Gerard will be held at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston, NY on Friday, August 28th at 1pm, with a reception to follow. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to Habitat for Humanity.