Obituary for Paul Rickard
Paul Rickard, 72, of Otisville, N.Y. devoted husband of 50 years, loving father of seven, and proud grandfather of 13, died Thursday, March 30, at New York University Hospital.
Paul was born in Bushwick, Brooklyn and was a 38-year area resident of Orange County, NY.
A graduate of St. John’s University, N.Y., Paul held master’s degrees in mathematics and education. Paul’s greatest passions were education, teaching and coaching. He began his professional career by teaching mathematics and coaching at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset on Long Island, NY.
For 36 years he was a member of the faculty at SUNY Orange. In addition to teaching mathematics, he served as chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Paul coached the men’s basketball team (25 years) and golf team (32 years), where he won several regional and conference championships. For his efforts he was inducted into the SUNY Orange Hall of Fame in 2015. One of his proudest moments was coaching his five sons at SUNY Orange.
Paul took great pride in competing, playing the game the right way, and respecting all parties involved. He especially enjoyed meeting with coaches and officials at Breyers Diner in Floral Park, NY and Colonial Diner in Middletown, NY. He was proud of the numerous CHSAA and Region XV Sportsmanship Awards his teams won.
Paul was a firm believer in the mission of SUNY Orange, and he valued the relationships he formed there over more than three decades. He felt so passionately about the quality of the educational experience that all seven of his children graduated from the SUNY Orange, and all went on to earn advanced degrees. Paul felt the opportunity to work at SUNY Orange was one of the many miracles in his life.
He also worked at Hempstead Lake State Park and Harriman State Park during the summers.
A resident of the Minisink Valley Central School District for 31 years, Paul was a current member of the Board of Education.
Paul was an active, faith-filled member of the parish community at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Otisville, where he had served on the Parish Council. He was a man of integrity, loyalty, and highest moral character.
He enjoyed attending his children’s basketball games and loved supporting his grandchildren in their various sporting activities. He spent much of his time in semi-retirement traveling the north east following his sons’ basketball careers.
His favorite pastime was taking drives with his wife, Maureen. He enjoyed gardening and golfing. He was firm believer in the American dream.
Paul was the son of the late Marie and Walter Rickard, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Maureen; two daughters, Christine and her husband, William, and Mary and her husband Jim; five sons, Paul Jr. and his wife, Allison, Thomas and his wife, Amy; Walter and his wife, Lindsey; Daniel and his wife, Courtney; and Timothy and his wife, Allison; 13 grandchildren, Matthew, Christopher, Thomas, Nicholas, Catherine, Mary Elizabeth, Cadence, Reagan, Carolina, Walter, Patrick, Mallory, and Braden; two sisters, Mary Hutchings and her husband, Doug, and Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP; and three brothers, Walter and his wife, Lynn; Joseph and his wife, Maureen; and Peter and his wife, Sally and many nieces and nephews. Paul’s strength, courage and deep faith have been an incredible gift and inspiration to his family, community and friends. Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday, April 2 from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Otisville. Burial will follow in the family plot in Holy Name of Jesus Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc. www.applebee-mcphillips.com
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Paul was born in Bushwick, Brooklyn and was a 38-year area resident of Orange County, NY.
A graduate of St. John’s University, N.Y., Paul held master’s degrees in mathematics and education. Paul’s greatest passions were education, teaching and coaching. He began his professional career by teaching mathematics and coaching at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset on Long Island, NY.
For 36 years he was a member of the faculty at SUNY Orange. In addition to teaching mathematics, he served as chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Paul coached the men’s basketball team (25 years) and golf team (32 years), where he won several regional and conference championships. For his efforts he was inducted into the SUNY Orange Hall of Fame in 2015. One of his proudest moments was coaching his five sons at SUNY Orange.
Paul took great pride in competing, playing the game the right way, and respecting all parties involved. He especially enjoyed meeting with coaches and officials at Breyers Diner in Floral Park, NY and Colonial Diner in Middletown, NY. He was proud of the numerous CHSAA and Region XV Sportsmanship Awards his teams won.
Paul was a firm believer in the mission of SUNY Orange, and he valued the relationships he formed there over more than three decades. He felt so passionately about the quality of the educational experience that all seven of his children graduated from the SUNY Orange, and all went on to earn advanced degrees. Paul felt the opportunity to work at SUNY Orange was one of the many miracles in his life.
He also worked at Hempstead Lake State Park and Harriman State Park during the summers.
A resident of the Minisink Valley Central School District for 31 years, Paul was a current member of the Board of Education.
Paul was an active, faith-filled member of the parish community at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Otisville, where he had served on the Parish Council. He was a man of integrity, loyalty, and highest moral character.
He enjoyed attending his children’s basketball games and loved supporting his grandchildren in their various sporting activities. He spent much of his time in semi-retirement traveling the north east following his sons’ basketball careers.
His favorite pastime was taking drives with his wife, Maureen. He enjoyed gardening and golfing. He was firm believer in the American dream.
Paul was the son of the late Marie and Walter Rickard, Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Maureen; two daughters, Christine and her husband, William, and Mary and her husband Jim; five sons, Paul Jr. and his wife, Allison, Thomas and his wife, Amy; Walter and his wife, Lindsey; Daniel and his wife, Courtney; and Timothy and his wife, Allison; 13 grandchildren, Matthew, Christopher, Thomas, Nicholas, Catherine, Mary Elizabeth, Cadence, Reagan, Carolina, Walter, Patrick, Mallory, and Braden; two sisters, Mary Hutchings and her husband, Doug, and Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP; and three brothers, Walter and his wife, Lynn; Joseph and his wife, Maureen; and Peter and his wife, Sally and many nieces and nephews. Paul’s strength, courage and deep faith have been an incredible gift and inspiration to his family, community and friends. Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday, April 2 from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Otisville. Burial will follow in the family plot in Holy Name of Jesus Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc. www.applebee-mcphillips.com
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Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
2
Apr
2:00 PM
- 5:00 PM
Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home
130 Highland Ave.
Middletown, NY 10940
Visitation
Sunday
2
Apr
7:00 PM
- 9:00 PM
Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home
130 Highland Ave.
Middletown, NY 10940
Service
Monday
3
Apr
10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
Holy Name of Jesus
Highland Avenue
Otisville, NY 10963
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