Final Salute

William J. Richwine passed away peacefully at Brookdale-Tempe on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 92 years of age. Bill was married to his beloved wife, Janet McGuire Richwine for 72 years.

Born on April 11, 1933, in Latrobe, Pa. to Elmer Dean and Jeannette McClorey Richwine and was the youngest of five children.

He graduated from Latrobe High School, as president of the Class of 1951 and then joined the Navy for 4 years.  After boot camp, he was assigned to a Seabee unit and sent to Japan for a year and supported the military fighting the Korean War .When he returned to his home base at San Diego, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Hancock, the “Fighting Hanna.”  He remained with that assignment until he was released from duty in June of 1955.  During this time he came home in 1953 to marry his high school sweetheart, Janet.

After his military duty ended he was released from the Navy, he came home and attended the University of Pittsburgh earning a Bachelor Degree in Parks and Recreation and working part time. He was then hired by Latrobe’s Parks and Recreation Department as a full time recreation coordinator. Part of his duties was to prepare and open the city’s newly acquired Rogers-McFeely swimming pool, which continues to be in operation today.  The Fred Rogers & McFeely families of Latrobe donated the swimming pool to the City.  Then he went on to Oak Park, Michigan.  While working in Oak Park, he earned a Masters Degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Wayne State University. He was then hired by Delaware, Ohio and followed by Kettering, Ohio as the Director to establish a Parks and Recreation Department for each of their cities.  He remained in Kettering for 12 years. The last stop in his career was Tempe, when he was hired in 1976 to become the Maricopa County Director of Parks and Recreation, retiring in 1992  All of his education endeavors were achieved thru the G.I.Bill.

In Retirement, Bill took up the game of Tennis which he loved and became very competitive as well as working out at the gym.  He and Janet traveled the United States, covering 49 States and Europe, Australia, New Zealand, British Isles and our favorite, Ireland.

He is survived by his wife Janet McGuire Richwine, daughter Celine Richwine, Norman, OK, daughter-in-law Marjorie Richwine, Parker, CO, son Mark (Adrienne), Richwine, Tempe, grandchildren: Caitlin Galarneau, Chas Marquez, Colin Marquez, Amy LeGrand, Andrew Richwine, Megan Richwine and Cole Richwine.  great grandchildren: Ben & Caedence Galarneau, Maeve Marquez, Caleb, Ethan & Avery LeGrand, Mason and Karlie Keefe.

He was preceded in death by his son: Dirk A. Richwine, grandson: Cameron Marquez, parents: Elmer Dean & Jeannette Richwine, siblings: Jean Kelly, ElmerJr (Bud) Richwine, Ruth Murray & Ray Richwine.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, St Vincent DePaul at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, or your favorite charity.

A celebration of Life Funeral Mass will be held for William J. Richwine and Dirk A. Richwine on May17, 2025 @ l:00PM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 2121 South Rural Road, Tempe. AZ 85282.  William and Dirk will be laid to rest at a later date at St. Vincent Cemetery in Latrobe, Pennsylvania

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