Richard “Dick” Kokosa, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Skaneateles on Oct. 29, 2021.
He was born on Nov. 4, 1936, and attended Draper High School in Schenectady, N.Y., where he met his future wife of 63 years, Mary Lee (White) Kokosa. He married his high school sweetheart on Aug. 23, 1958. He obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics at Union College in 1958 and Rutgers University in 1960, respectively.
Dick worked for General Electric Company for 24 years beginning in 1960 with research and development at the Auburn plant, where he co-authored several patents for semiconductor technology. He then advanced to management of the semiconductor business unit and operations at the Auburn plant, then eventually management of the Contractor Equipment business unit for three years in Plainville, CT. In 1984, Dick and Mary Lee saw an opportunity to return to Skaneateles, and during the final 14 years of his career, he served as vice president of the Lighting Systems Division of the former Welch Allyn, Inc. (Hillrom) in Skaneateles Falls, where he successfully grew the lighting business by expanding the use of fiber optic technology and LED lamps to new applications in the industrial and aviation sectors.
Dick was very active as a civic leader and with youth sports including past member of the board of education for Skaneateles Central School, officer of Skaneateles Jaycees, board of directors for Auburn Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Skaneateles Library Association, past president of the Skaneateles Rotary Club, coach for Lakeshore Little League Baseball, hockey dad for his two sons and softball coach for his daughter.
Dick is survived by his wife Mary Lee (White) Kokosa, his sister Reggie (Kokosa) Snyder of Wilmington, NC, his son Vernon Kokosa and his wife Lisa (Keegan) Kokosa of Dennis, MA, his son Andrew Kokosa and his wife Patricia (Mollihan) Kokosa of Aurora, IL, his daughter Nancy (Kokosa) Cyr and her husband Scott of Boise, ID, plus six grandchildren; Daniel Kokosa of Nashua, NH, Jonathan Kokosa of Amherst, NH, Drew Kokosa and his wife Kate of Chicago, IL, Zak Kokosa and his wife Katie of San Francisco, CA, Hunter Cyr of Warren, MI, and Bretta Cyr of Bozeman, MT. His faithful dog Charlie will miss him dearly.
A celebration of life will be held at The Lodge on the grounds of the former Welch-Allyn plant (Hillrom), 4355 State St., Skaneateles Falls, NY on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to SAVES, 77 Fennell Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152, or to the Skaneateles Library Association, 49 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
