Richard Angelo Ferrari Sr.

We are sad to announce the passing of Richard “Rick” “Uncle Dickie” Angelo
Ferrari, Sr., 78, of Bradenton, Florida, formally of North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 13, 2023. He was
born in New Haven, Connecticut on June 6, 1944 to Angelo Ferrari and Raphael
(Longobardi) Ferrari-Ondusko.
In addition to his parents, Rick, and also his sister Rosemary, were cared for by
their grandparents, Luigi “Louis” and Albina “Rose” (Carniani) Ferrari and their 3
uncles in North Haven, Connecticut.
Rick attended East Haven High School in East Haven, Connecticut and shortly after
at the age of 18, in 1962, he enlisted in the United States Navy.
On October 2, 1965 Rick married his first wife, Cheryl Ann (Bloomfield) Ferrari in
Providence, RI. They share 4 children, and made their home in North Kingstown,
RI.
On September 5, 1981, Rick married his second wife, Gail (Staley) Richmond in
Charlestown, RI. They share 3 children and made their home in Charlestown, RI.
While serving in the United States Navy, FTG3 (E-4) (1962-1968) Rick was a fire
technician and he learned to weld. He received a National Defense Service Medal
for his campaign in the Vietnam War. He served on the USS Lake Champlain II
(CV-39). After Lake Champlain’s final decommission on May 2, 1966, in
Philadelphia, he was transferred to the reserves and stationed to the USS Essex
(CVS-9) in Quonset Point, Rhode Island as a Seabee.
He was a member of the USS Lake Champlain II’s recovery mission team for the
Gemini V on August 29, 1965 which was piloted by Astronauts L. Gordon Cooper,
Jr and Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr.
After his Honorable Discharge from the Navy, he worked at General Dynamics
Electric Boat (E.B.) in Quonset Point for many years welding and fabricating parts
for submarines. Rick was also an active member of the Charlestown Richmond
and Cross Mills Fire Departments in Charlestown, RI. After retiring from E.B. he
became an over-the-road truck driver to see the Country. He loved to go on
spontaneous road trips, ice-skate, play hockey, play guitar, sing and tell jokes and
stories. He loved watching his favorite musicals The Fiddler on the Roof, The
Music Man and Annie Get Your Gun. His favorite pastime was arguing with his
sister Rosemary “Rosie” on how to cook the sauce. Rick also enjoyed his condo
lifestyle and spending time with his friends at the Third Bay Shore Condo
Community in Bradenton, Florida.
Rick is preceded in death by his his grandparents, parents, sister Rosemary
“Rosie” Ferrari-Famiglietti-Douglas, his brother Emilio “Mo” Ondusko and his
fiancé Jackie Hogue He is survived by his 7 children, Richard Angelo Ferrari, Jr.,
Karen Lynn (Jason) McGuire, Christine Louise (Kenneth) Dyer and David Benjamin
Ferrari, all of Sarasota, Florida; James Michael (Gloria) Staley of Long Island, New
York; Jessica May (Michael Ferguson) Riffle of Waterford, Connecticut, and
Donald Angelo (Meagen Rainville) Ferrari of Westerly, Rhode Island. Richard was
also an extremely proud Papa who was endeared by his 17 grandchildren, 3 great
grandchildren with 1 great grandbaby on the way. He was also a cherished Uncle
Dickie to his sister Rosie’s 3 children who reside in Connecticut.
A ceremony with military honors will be held at the Sarasota National Cemetery in
Sarasota, Florida on June 13, 2023 at 1130 a.m. A private Burial at Sea ceremony
in Sarasota will be at a date later to be determined.

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