Richard Albert Marx, Jr., age 83, of Skaneateles, died on April 19, 2020, at St Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. He resided in Skaneateles and was a member of St. Mary’s of the Lake Church since 1972. He spent his early years in Wallingford, CT, living close to extended family and attending local schools. Shortly after high school graduation in June 1954, he and a close friend enlisted in the United States Navy. He proudly served on the U.S.S. Compton DD705, visiting many ports of call in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. His was the last ship to pass through the Suez Canal at the start of the 1956 Suez Crisis, limping south to Durban, South Africa for extensive repairs to the ship. He fondly recalled the generous hospitality of the local residents. Following his honorable discharge in 1957, he attended the Ward School of Electronics in Hartford, CT, earning a degree as an electronics technician and spending the majority of his career with General Electric, retiring in 1993 as Northeast Regional Sales Manager.
He always treasured simple family traditions, especially Sunday dinners and holidays at home with family. Following retirement, he enjoyed having more time to spend with family, flipping “Poppyburgers” by the pool, “volunteering” at a local family farm, hunting and enjoying the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes. He was instrumental in the early development of the Skaneateles Conservation Area, serving as committee chair for many years. He also served as number one stockboy at the Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantry and co-pilot for Meals on Wheels for a number of years.
He was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Mary (Balderacchi) Marx. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Loretta; their children, Lorene, Rick (Alan), Lynn Brown (David), and Sheri Hass (Ron); grandchildren Steven (Tessa) and Laura Brown, Amanda, Joshua and Erin Hass, Anthony “AJ” Marx; and great-grandsons Adam and Peter Brown. He will continue to be greatly loved and sadly missed by his entire family.
Private services were held at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery. In the midst of this Covid 19 pandemic, his family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Glowacki for his kind and diligent attention during his last days at home, as well as the doctors and staff who cared for him at St Joseph’s Hospital.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, the Food Bank of Central New York, SAVES or American Legion Robert J. Hydon Post 239.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
