Richard William Haesler

1929 - 2017

Richard William Haesler

AGE: 88 • Wall, N.J

Richard William Haesler, 88, of Wall, N.J., passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at the University of

Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family.

The son of Joseph and Loretta (nee Gannon), Richard grew up in Upper Montclair with brother Joseph,

Jr. and sister Jean. He graduated from Saint Benedicts Preparatory School in Newark in 1947 and

Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 1951, before serving in the United States Marine

Corps and receiving an honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in 1953.

Richard worked for Sterling Extruders Corporation in South Plainfield for much of his professional life,

ultimately serving for many years as Vice-President of its Sales Division. Prior to his employment with

Sterling Extruders, Richard served in a variety of Sales positions with, among others; the W.R. Grace Co.;

Sun Chemical; and Celanese Corporation. At the end of his career, he started Polymers & Machinery,

Inc., which he went on to operate with his son Andrew.

In addition to his son Andrew, who resides in Manhattan with his partner Patricia Scott, Richard is

survived by his son Richard, Jr. and daughters Pamela Van Vlandren (with husband Joel) and Cynthia

Schnell (with husband Josef), all of Charlotte, Vermont. He was most proud of his five grand-daughters,

Alexandra Haesler of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Nicole Sisk of Burlington, Vermont; and Margaret

Haesler, Morgan Schnell, and Audrey Schnell, of Charlotte, Vermont. Richard was pre-deceased by his

beloved wife Sally (nee Heath) in 1984.

Richard was a man of many passions. First of all he loved his family. He also gave generously of his time

to both the Holy Trinity Parish of Westfield where he raised his family with his wife, Sally, and to Saint

Marks Parish in Sea Girt (after he retired and moved to Wall Township). As a proud alumnus of Saint

Benedicts Prep, he supported many of their programs. Richard loved nature and the outdoors and

manifested that love in hiking, biking, fishing and bird watching. He loved classical music and jazz.

Known as "Horse" Haesler from his football days at Saint Benedicts (which won the 1946 State Parochial

Championship), and Georgetown, where he was a member of the 1950 Sun Bowl team, he loved all

sports. He umpired and refereed for Westfield youth programs and enjoyed playing both golf and

tennis up to his final years. He was loyal to a fault, and maintained many lifelong friendships. He will be

greatly missed. He will be buried beside his wife Sally at private graveside service in Westfield on an

unannounced date. In lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made to Saint Benedicts Preparatory

School of Newark, New Jersey. Local arrangements by Gray Funeral Home, Westfield, NJ.