Richard Paul Varley

Saratoga Springs, NY - Richard Paul Varley passed away on February 12, 2025 at the age of 84 at Equinox Terrace, Manchester, VT.  Born in Thomson, NY on March 17, 1940, he was the youngest of 4 children born to the late Dorothy Lang Brooks Varley and George Varley.

Richard, with the consent of his parents, joined the Army at age 17 with his brother, Thomas Varley. They both auditioned as buglers for the Army Band and were accepted and stationed at West Point where they both served for 3 years. His parents then bought him a used piano to repair, and his passion for the instrument inspired him to attend a Piano Technician school in Pennsylvania. On completion of the program he moved to Saratoga Springs to start his new business and became known as “Dick Varley the Piano Tuner”.

He honed his craft and grew into one of the most respected piano technicians in the area. Richard became the concert tuner for SPAC when it opened in 1966 and worked there for over 50 years. He became the concert tuner at the Egg in Albany, and he tuned for the entire music department at Skidmore College. He also had many private customers in and around the Saratoga County area, many of whom became his close friends. 

Armed with a witty joke or pun, Richard would banter with the stage hands at SPAC, the professors at Skidmore, the members of the Racing City Chorus where he sang barbershop on Tuesday nights, or with his ballroom dance friends on weekends away with his wife, Donna Bird. He was also an avid piano player and songwriter. Richard was extremely social and made friends everywhere he went. His positive outlook and personable nature were always welcome at any social gathering. 

Richard is the beloved father of, and is survived by, Scott Varley (wife, Amra) and Kristin Pirie (Husband, Iain); grandfather, of Sloan and Julian Pirie and Amelia Domazet, and husband and partner, of Donna Bird. He is also survived by beloved step children, grandchildren, several cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.  Richard is predeceased by his sisters, Sue Brooks Garnsey (Zene) and Clara Brooks Charron (Art) and his Brother, Thomas Varley (Candace).

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region, VT https://www.vermontvisitingnurses.org or to The Saratoga Performing Arts Center https://spac.org/saratoga-performing-arts-center/support-us/donations-general-fund/

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 10:00am – 12:00pm on Friday, February 28, 2025 at the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 584-5373. There will be a procession and short service at 1:00pm at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY, followed by a 2:30 pm celebration of life open to all, at Mama Mia’s Restaurant 185 Ballston Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY.