RICHARD NORMAN FASTIGGI

RICHARD NORMAN FASTIGGI - SOUTH BURLINGTON - Richard Norman Fastiggi of South Burlington, Coate's Island, and Mission, Texas, passed away on May 1, 2014, in the Vermont Respite House following a brief illness. Dick was born Dec. 26, 1931, in Bronx, N.Y., the son of James V. and Margaret M. (Perez) Fastiggi. Dick grew up in Mamaroneck, N.Y., became an Eagle Scout, and graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1949. He attended Lehigh University, where he was a member of Delta Chi fraternity, leaving there in 1952 at the height of the Korean Conflict to enter the U.S. Army. He subsequently was admitted to and graduated from The Engineer Officers Candidate School at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. His service included assignments at Ft. Sheridan, IL, K-8 AFB in Suwon, Korea, and Ft. Dix, N.J. Dick completed his military service in 1956, returning to Lehigh to finish his studies in Civil Engineering, graduating in 1958. Dick worked for a time in New Jersey doing bridge structural design, and in 1960 joined the General Electric Company's Aerospace Group in Burlington, as a missile structural design engineer. Subsequent assignments included leading the winning proposal effort and heading the ensuing management of the Gau8A aircraft armament system program, one of the most successful at GE Burlington. This led to further assignments in business planning and as the manager of the GE test facility in Burlington. Dick retired from GE in 1992, with 32 years of proud service. He was a member of the GE ELFUN Society. Early in his retirement Dick volunteered extensively with the Chittenden County United Way. He was a founding member of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center in 1993. He was a board member from 1994 to 2006, serving in the leadership roles of Secretary, Vice President, President and Chairman. He joined the Malletts Bay Boat Club in 1966, serving several years on the Afterguard, and as Master in 1975 and 1976, and was made an Honorary Member in 2012. Dick was a competitive Lightning sailor, winning the New England Masters Championship in 2010. He was a key organizer of the 2001 Lightning North American Championship Regatta and the 2009 World Championship Regatta, held at MBBC. He retired from competitive sailboat racing after the 2011 season. He was a member of the West Bolton Golf Club, and with his golfing buddies made an annual boating journey from Burlington to Florida, cruising in a recreational trawler and playing golf at each available harbor. Over the years this led to the creation of the on-going "Bruce-Dick-Bill Tournament", with its annual family banquet and awards ceremony. He shot his age twice and earned a hole-in-one. Earlier in Dick's sporting career he was active in sports car rallies and gymkhana. Dick and Patricia Wilson met in 1960 while performing in a community musical theater production in New Jersey, with Dick proposing, and Pat accepting, on stage during the curtain call of "Call Me Madam." The following year they were married at the University of Notre Dame where Pat's father, Alex Wilson, was the track and field coach. Dick and Pat have been active members of their church and community, singing in the St. John Vianney Church Folk Group and the South Burlington Community Chorus. Dick also organized the annual Bishop's Fund appeal for many years. In their retirement community in Mission, Texas, Dick served as president of the neighborhood association for two years, organized their weekly golf scrambles and enjoyed singing in the choir and at happy hour. Dick was a kind and gentle man, and there was nothing more important to him than his family. He enjoyed researching his family genealogy, which included traveling to town archives and even a trip to Calitri, Italy, to research his family roots. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren at camp, and his smile was always present. Predeceased by his parents; Dick is survived by his wife, Pat; his brothers, Robert of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Raymond (Jane) of Mamaroneck; sons, Bill (Suzy Coburn) and Rick (Rebecca Sidway); and daughters, Beth (Patrick Standen), Kathy (Eric Stengel) and their children, Corey, Kate and Christopher, and Barbara (Kurt Bosselman) and their children, Alex and Jemma; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at St. John Vianney Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd., South Burlington, followed by a reception at the church hall. Online condolences can be shared at www.lavignefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with the LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 132 Main St., in Winooski. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick's name to the American Cancer Society, (Vermont Chapter 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495); the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (82 Killarney Dr. Burlington, VT 05408); Everybody Wins! VT (P.O. Box 34, Montpelier, VT 05601); or any other charity of your choosing.