New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Richard Joseph Gelinas
Richard Joseph Gelinas, age 93 of Oxford, Michigan, formerly of North Haven, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Sept. 7, 2022 surrounded by his family.
Beloved husband of the late Beverly; dear father of Patricia Worster; loving Gramps to Steven ( Jillian) and Jeffrey ( Jaime) Worster; proud Great-Gramps to Evelyn, Braden, August, Colt and Collins; also survived by his nieces and nephews. Dick was predeceased by his brother Donald (late Marge) Gelinas.
Dick was born on March 27, 1929 in Hartford, Connecticut to Louis and Loretta (Hackett) Gelinas. After graduating from Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut, Dick enlisted in the Army and served as a rifleman in Korea. After receiving his honorable discharge, Dick returned to Connecticut and began his career with the Southern New England Telephone Company where he worked for the next 40 years. He attended the University of New Haven, earning a degree in engineering and a bachelor’s degree in business. In his retirement, he worked at the North Haven Recycling Center.
Dick was very active in the fire department in North Haven, Connecticut. He was a founding member of the West Ridge Volunteer Fire Association where he was a member and volunteer firefighter for 66 years. He served the Town of North Haven as a Fire Commissioner for 12 years, a Captain and Association President of West Ridge and a member of the CT Fire Police Association. Dick was also a member of the New Haven County Fire Commissioners Association.
Dick was a fan of the UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball team and enjoyed watching many games. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword, jumble and sudoku puzzles.
A funeral service will be held in Michigan on Sunday, October 16 at 4PM at Modetz Funeral Home, 100 E Silverbell Rd., Orion, MI. The family will receive friends beginning at 1PM until the time of service. Private interment will be at Eastlawn Cemetery, Lake Orion, MI with military honors. Suggested memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.