Obituary of Richard J. Geary

Richard (Dick) John Geary passed away peacefully in his home on December 10, 2023 after a long illness. He was born on June 14, 1943 to Richard and Mabelle Anderson Geary.

Growing up on his parent's farm in South Glastonbury, he and his brother, Glenn learned at an early age, to work very hard.  This ethic carried them through their whole lives. Dick worked hard every day of his life, caring deeply for his home, his family, his friends, and his dogs. From 1965-1971 Dick served in the US Army National Guard, achieving the rank of Specialist 4 to Sergeant.

When he was 5 years old, Dick started collecting & redeeming bottles at the local market in South Glastonbury. This connection to grocery stores became a lifelong passion, through leadership at Popular Markets and Warehouse Foods. He eventually became CEO of Greenfield's Supermarkets, an independent supermarket chain in Connecticut. He then began to work in the wholesale grocery industry at C&S Wholesale Grocers, where he supported many family businesses and made many lifelong friends over thirty years, keeping independent grocery store sales alive from New Hampshire to Maryland until his retirement in 2017. In 2011, he was inducted into the Connecticut Grocer's Association Hall of Fame.

On August 20, 1966, He married Joanne St. Amand and built his first homeon Lake Pocotopaug, in East Hampton, CT.  Dick & Joanne were the proudparents of daughter Marlene and son, Brett.  They spent a good amount of quality time, with family and friends while living in that home.  They loved to travel and went on many cruises, several car trips and even Italy.

Dick's lifelong hobby was belonging to the Glastonbury Fish & Game Club and hunting pheasants with his furry children, Sara, Bo, T.J., Addie, Suzi, and GiGi, just to name a few of his hunting dogs over the years.  Most of these special dogs always took first and second place in the clubs Field Trials, bringing in blue, red & yellow ribbons plus the trophy.

In 1980 they moved to South Glastonbury, CT, where the children went to school, played sports, interacted with others and enjoyed a wonderful life.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Joanne, many relatives and some special friends, such as Joe Young, Peter Dudis, Ed Goracy, Jim Curtis, and many others.

In 2014, Dick met a widow, Frances Ann Rella Chevrette, and they started dating and enjoying each other’s company.  They dated for four years and in 2018, they were married at Ss. Isadore and Maria Parish, where they were weekly communicants.  GOD allowed them to share a happy, loving, best friends’ life, wonderful, life together.  They were fortunate enough to enjoy their love of travel together and took trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Austria, Vienna, Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Canada, Mexico, seven times and went on seven cruises.

Dick is survived by his loving wife, Fran, brother Glenn of Albany, NY, daughter Marlene & her fiancé, John Calderbank of East Hampton, CT, and son, Brett also of East Hampton, CT.

He was so very loved by everyone and will be sorely missed by his blended family children, Fran's son Joe (Christine) Chevrette of Utica, N.Y., her daughter, Patti (Rick) Bradstreet of Rocky Hill, CT, and her daughter Maria (Jeff) Fritz of Windsor Locks, CT. He also leaves his acquired grandchildren, Joe (Meredith) Chevrette, Jamie (Ann) Swearingen, and Michael (Avery) Chevrette, all of upstate NY. Ricky Madley of Bristol, CT and Nicole, Jack & Emily Garrity and Jared & Vanessa Fritz of Windsor Locks, CT.  And the bonus great-grandchildren, Ricky & Matthew Madley and Benjamin Swearingen, who loved it when Grandpa Dick came to visit and play with them.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 10:00 am at Ss. Isidore and Maria Parish at St. Paul Church, 2577 Main St., Glastonbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call on Sunday, December 17, 2023 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.