Richard Szewczyk, 74, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Middlesex

Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut with his daughter Jamie by his side.

Born on March 13, 1950, in Middletown, Richard was the beloved son of the late Raymond

Szewczyk and the late Jeane (Reiss) Bertelli.

Richard had a few careers in his lifetime including X-ray, truck driver, a foreman at United

Technologies, and restaurant owner.

Richard loved sailing, fishing, camping, playing guitar, traveling, golf, going for a drive at 5 mph

below the speed limit, eating, watching tv, spending time at the "shack" and his family. He was

never afraid of an adventure, like the time he took a trip down the Saco River with his friend Bob

in the spring when the river doubles in size engulfing the woods. Or the time he drove cross

country on a motorcycle accompanied by his brother Bob and girlfriend Leslie (later to be his

wife). Richard was also a member of the Christadelphian church and occasionally ran the

sermons. He was good too!

These are all things he loved, but what is most impressive about Richard's life was his character

and integrity. Richard had a very challenging life. He had various health issues and there were

times in his life, and it would have been easy to give up, very easy. He never did give up, it only

made him stronger.

As a child Richard moved many times and lost his father at 8 years old. At age 16 he got

Rheumatic fever. He was out of school for a year and had a major weight gain from the steroids

they were giving him. The weight gain caused circulatory system issues that remained for the

rest of his life. In 2007 at age 57 he had a major stroke, and over the next 16 years he would

have additional brain bleeds and other health complications that would ultimately be too much.

Throughout all of this he maintained his Greatness. It would have been easy to succumb to all of

these hardships and just give up, but he always, always bounced back!

Greatness is not what you might think, greatness is not a popularity contest, it is not the fanciest

car, or biggest house, or coolest job. It isn't a high school name, it isn't money… Greatness is

not nice clothes, swagger, or any of these things. Richard wasn't the fanciest person in the

world, he didn't have a great fashion sense, he kind of looked like a tourist, at all times. He had

a lot of hidden natural strength and the biggest calf muscles you ever saw (not so hidden). So his

exterior appearance was that of Chuck the Tourist. The Greatness I am talking about can only be

seen by God. We only witnessed Richard's kindness in certain scenarios, his kindness to

strangers, co-workers, and the numerous times he pulled the whole family over to help a stranger

change a tire, etc.… So he was a good person, but beyond that he was a hero. In those extreme

situations that only occur a few times in life, that is when his unassuming wooden chalice

revealed itself to be gold. Richard revealed his true greatness a few times in life and here is one

of occasions:

1993 Hurricane Emily, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina : a mandatory evacuation is issued,

everyone has 24 hours to evacuate. As the tourists take in their last day before escaping, all eyes

are on the beautiful but deadly turquoise waves breaking a quarter mile from shore. Out of

nowhere Richard is gone, without a word to his family he hit the water at full speed. He spotted

a person being swept out to sea 100 yards out. He didn't think twice, say goodbye or even

flinch, he was called to duty… the world needed greatness at that moment. There were a lot of

people on the beach that day, but it was Chuck the Tourist who acted. He risked his life that day,

but he also saved a life that day and only a handful of people on that beach will remember him

because he never mentioned it or bragged about it when we got home, it was just what great

people do.

Love Thy neighbor. They might drive an old car, smoke cigarettes, always wear their button up

shirt but never use the buttons except for the very last one on the bottom, they may be bald or

thinning, they may drive 5 mph below the speed limit. But… they may also be the first one in

the water.

Bad into Good, Darkness into Light, Selfishness to Selflessness, Hate to Love. ~Asher

He is survived by his son, Christopher R. Szewczyk, and his wife Jenny of Middlefield, CT,

daughter Jamie Szewczyk of Portland, CT. He leaves behind his three cherished grandchildren,

Asher, Daelan, and Holden. He leaves behind his brothers and sister, Raymond Szewczyk and

his wife Renee of Clinton, CT and Robert Szewczyk and his wife Joan of Killingworth, his sister,

Roberta Bergeron of Texas. He leaves behind his nieces and nephews Teri Richards of East

Hampton, CT, her sons, Gabriel and Lucas, Heather Manley of Westbrook, CT, her sons, Mason

and Griffin, Hannah Costa and her four boys, John, Seth, Jesse, and Asher of Texas, Michael

Vollhardt and his daughter Heather, Christopher Vollhardt and his son Connor both of Clinton,

CT, Richard was predeceased by his sister, Amy Farone, his mother Jeanne Bertelli and his

father, Raymond Szewczyk.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 9:30 AM on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at St. Colman Church,

located at 145 Hubbard Street, Middlefield, Connecticut. A private burial will be held at a later

date.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at biegafuneralhome.com.