Richard “Dick” Trompeter died Friday, April 29, 2016, while in the comfort of his home and family. Dick was born in 1925 to Louise and August Trompeter in Rochester and was the youngest sibling after Lucille, Herb, Ray, Bernard and Robert.  Blessed with boundless energy, a big smile and a welcoming, engaging personality, Dick had a genuine appreciation for all types of people that he met, both in his personal and professional life.  Dick developed many of his lifelong friendships, first at St. Boniface Grammar School and in high school at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, and later as an enlisted Army Air Force radar mechanic for three years during WWII.  Upon his discharge from the service, Dick earned a bachelor’s degree from Niagara University and subsequently began a 33-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, first in sales for Wyeth in Rochester and subsequently as a clinical researcher at Bristol Myers Squibb in Syracuse.  After moving to Skaneateles from Camillus in 1981, Dick became a very active member of St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church where he was an altar server, eucharistic minister and, after his retirement, a cemetery groundskeeper for many years.  Dick also devoted time as a community volunteer driving the Laker Limo, washing dishes at Stella Maris and was the “Coffee Guy” weekly at The Samaritan Center in Syracuse.  For most of his later years Dick enjoyed a daily routine of 5:30 a.m. exercise at the Community Center followed by morning mass and then breakfast with the boys, a game of golf or yardwork.  Dick nurtured his lifelong passion for golf at the Skaneateles Country Club, regularly playing in the couples and men’s leagues and with the Rag Baggers group.
Dick is survived by Mary Anne his loving wife of 61 years; his children and their spouses Chris (Rosemary), Bill (Cheryl) and Ellen (Dennis) and six grandchildren who he diligently kept engaged with – Grace, Luke and Daniel Trompeter and Emma, James and Oliver Sherry, his sister Lucille, brother Bernie and a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Calling hours with Dick’s family will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 13, at the Robert D. Gray Funeral Home 49 Jordan St., Skaneateles. A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church 81 Jordan St., Skaneateles, followed by a luncheon reception in the Parish Center.
In lieu of flowers please consider supporting one of Dick’s charitable interests:
United Service Organizations (USO) PO BOX 96860, Washington, DC, 20077-7677, uso.org
The Samaritan Center, 215 N. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13203, samcenter.org. To send condolences visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.