Richard K. Alexander

Ledyard - Richard K. Alexander, CDR USN (Ret.), 79, retired naval submarine officer, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, from complications of a lung disease at Harrington Court in Colchester.

He was born in Upland, Pa., on March 23, 1933, the son of Marian (Parsons) and Andrew Alexander. He grew up in Ridley Park, Pa., where he graduated from Ridley Park High School. He was a graduate of the class of 1958 from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and had a career in the submarine force.

He served aboard the USS Kearsarge, CV-33, trained at the U.S. Naval Submarine School in Groton, served aboard the USS Spinax, SS-489, served aboard and was a plank owner of the USS Woodrow Wilson, SSBN-624, transferred to COMSUBRON 14 Staff in Holy Loch, Scotland, served aboard the USS Bang, SS-385, and was the executive officer for the USS Tusk, SS-426. He served in the administration of the Guided Missile School in Dam Neck, Va., assigned as the administration officer at SUPSHIP of Electric Boat, and finally as the director of Basic Enlisted Training at the U.S. Naval Submarine School at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton.

After retiring from the U.S. Navy in June 1978, he worked at Mystech Associates in Mystic, Barnes Engineering in Stamford, Kaman Aerospace in Bloomfield, and was an adjunct professor of management for years and served as the director of Business Services at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich.

He was a current member and past president of the Connecticut Marine Model Society. He also was a member and a volunteer in the Retired Activities Organization at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, Groton, a past member and president of Ledyard Rotary, the Gales Ferry Fire Department and Fire Police, and a treasurer at the Gales Ferry United Methodist Church, where he also taught Sunday School to senior high school students.

Cdr. Alexander earned a master's degree from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. in 1971, and another master's degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in 1974.

After retirement, he and his wife, Barbara, enjoyed visiting places around the world such as Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Egypt, the Caribbean, Ireland, Russia, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the Panama Canal, Mexico, and South America.

He married Barbara Harlow on June 7, 1958, three days after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Nancy Oaks, her husband, Brian, and their children, Emily and Ian of Tolland; daughter, Judy Marano, her husband, Sal, and their children, Erica and Ryan of Glastonbury; son, Scott, his wife, Annette, and their children, Rachel and Nathan of Colchester; and daughter, Debbie Iannacito, her husband, Tom, and their daughters, Stephanie and Danielle, and his daughter, Marisa of Torrington. He is also survived by a sister, Joyce (Alexander) Leap of Runnymede, N.J.

He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Rebecca.

The family sincerely appreciates the outstanding care and support provided by the nurses and staff at Harrington Court to Cdr. Alexander and his family.

A celebration of Richard's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the Gales Ferry United Methodist Church. Burial will be private at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium in Annapolis, Md. There will be no calling hours.

Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London, CT 06320.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to the Gales Ferry United Methodist Church, 10 Chapman Lane, Gales Ferry, CT 06335.

Please visit www.Byles.com for directions, to sign the guest book, or to share a memory.