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Richard Erwin Obituary
Calling hours will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday (September 30) at the Palmisano-Mull Funeral Home LLC, 28 Genesee Street, Geneva, N.Y.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday (October 1) at St. Francis de Sales Church, 130 Exchange Street, Geneva, followed by an entombment in St. Mary's Mausoleum, County Road #6, also in Geneva.
Memorial contributions may be made to any of the following, all of which are in Geneva, NY, 14456: The Smith Opera House ArtSmart Educational Theater, 82 Seneca Street; Our Lady of Peace Parish, 130 Exchange Street; or Ontario-Yates Hospice, 756 Pre-Emption Road.
Richard was born on September 14, 1942 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Nicholas and Catherine (Duggan) Irwin. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era as a military policeman stationed at the Seneca Army Depot, during which time he met his future wife, Barbara DiConstanzo. He was a member of the American Legion Winnek Post #396.
After completing his service, Richard began his career with Metropolitan Life Insurance in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was (perhaps surprisingly to some) a relatively shy young man, but quickly blossomed into a highly effective salesman. After four years in Brooklyn, Richard was transferred to Geneva, N.Y., where he was named a staff manager, and led his colleagues to become the number one sales team in the region.
Throughout his early working life, Richard was active in multiple community enterprises. He was a member of the Finger Lakes Association of Life Underwriters, where he served as Chairman of the Life Underwriters Training Council in 1978. In that position he inaugurated the "Outstanding Teenager of the Year'' award program, which went on to be adopted by the National Association of Life Underwriters and continues to this day.
After his time at Metropolitan, Richard served as the Executive Director of the Smith Opera House in Geneva from 1984 to 1994. His passionate belief in the greatness of the historic theater and its unrealized value for the Finger Lakes region served as a spark in creating a vision of the venue as a preserved, restored, and revitalized regional treasure. Under Richard's leadership, the Smith was designated a "Performing Arts Organization" by the New York State Council on the Arts, and received national attention after being recognized by the Smithsonian as a "Great American Movie Palace." During his tenure, Richard was instrumental in obtaining over $1,000,000 in programming, development, preservation, and restoration grants for the Smith.
Continuing his established pattern of deep community engagement, Richard labored to promote several Finger Lakes-area organizations and events. He was a founding member and the first President of the Irish-American Society of the Finger Lakes, initiating a regular step-dancing class and a weekly radio program of traditional Irish music, as well as presenting many traditional Irish music and dance concerts during his time at the Smith. Richard also served as part of a number of regional associations. He was a founding board member of the Ontario County Tourism Agency, and served as a board member of the Ontario County Fair Association, the Ontario County Cancer Society, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, and the Geneva Human Rights Commission. He also served as a member of the Ontario County Arts Council, and the original Geneva Business Association.
Later in his career, Richard was integral in the creation of "Genevafest," which in time evolved into the Whale Watch summer festival. He was involved in the establishment of the Geneva Summer Concerts Festival, and co-founded the Musical Moments concert series, held at the Geneva Public Library and which continues to this day.
Richard is survived by his wife, Barbara (DiCostanzo) Erwin; his two sons, Richard Scott Erwin (Kimberly D. Wade) of Albuquerque, N.M., and Christopher Andrew Erwin (Kimberly A. Linde) of Waldorf, Md.; grandchildren, Ian, Abby, Sean, and Nathaniel Erwin; and nephews, Kevin, Stephen, and Thomas Erwin.
He was predeceased by his parents; his three brothers, James, John, and Patrick Erwin; and his nephews, Robert and William Erwin.
His family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, and caregivers who cared for Richard over the past several years. A special thank you to Drs. William Platzer, Doria Scortichini, and Kyle Perillo, his healthcare team from the Canandaigua V.A., especially Barbara Vandemortel, Cheryl Driscoll, and Cheryl Lea Koronowski, his home health aides Angie, Diana, and Paulita, and the Ontario-Yates Hospice team. Finally, thank you to Richard and Barbara's family, friends, and neighbors for their support and many kindnesses over the last several years.
Online condolences for the family may be sent to www.palmfh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Erwin
Sponsored by Palmisano-Mull Funeral Home, LLC.
Linda & George
September 23, 2024
It's hard to believe it's been two years already... We think of you and your "Richie-isms" often. We should have written them all down in the back of the May I book.
I remember the day I took this pic of you, one of your first trips on the new "scooter" you'd gotten from your friend Laura, so pleased you were going to be more mobile... And that near-regal wave was the best! Still my favorite of all the pictures we have.
The Robinson-Williamson-Stevensons miss you lots.
Tracy Loucks
October 3, 2022
I stopped in the Smith one day, because I saw a sign in the window that read `Volunteers Wanted´. I was taking classes at FLCC, when it was still CCFL, and the extension center was on the corner of Seneca and Main Sts.
Marcy McQuillan was Rich´s administrative assistant. She asked my name, and wanted to know why I wanted to volunteer, and what kind of work I wanted to do.
I told her that I wanted to see if I could do anything to help them between my classes. She handed me a stack of flyers for an upcoming show, and sent me on my way. When I returned, empty handed, Rich saw the smile on Marcy´s face and asked her who I was. She asked if I would come back the next day to distribute more flyers. I did. In fact I came back quite a few times, and helped in the office. Rich knew my major by then, and just before the semester ended, offered me the first-ever, paid position as bookkeeper at the Smith Opera House.
It was an enchanting building then.. it is a beautiful building now. (However, I do miss the marquee.) Rich was very proud, as he should be, of all his accomplishments and accolades. He deserved them, and wore them well. He helped to bring life into that building and everything and everyone associated with it.
When we would have live shows, the actors would be nervous just before they would go on, but Rich would always introduce the act, spending about 5 minutes on stage. He would be as cool as a cucumber, not nervous one bit. Of course the lights made the stage so hot he´d grab for his handkerchief as soon as he was done, but not for the audience to see. He belonged on that stage and under those bright lights, and he knew how to please a crowd.
The 3 of us spent many a day going out to lunch, or talking in the office. I learned through those conversations how much family meant to Rich, and how much he relied on Barb. So sweet.
Oh, and he also brought bagels back to us from his trips to Brooklyn. First bagels, and best bagels I ever ate.
Break-a-leg up there!
Craig Fox
October 2, 2022
I covered the Smith Opera House when he was the executive director. He was always fun to talk with and was able to convince me to do a lot of stories that I probably could have passed on, but he had a huge personality and made me laugh. I got to do an interview with the Clancy Brothers and then got meet them. I shared an Irish heritage with him and we talked a lot about that. He was truly one of favorite people in all of my years in Geneva. He was a force for the community and did so much. I worked with Barb for many years. My thoughts are with you and your sons. Rich, thank you. RIP
Susan Linde
September 30, 2022
The few times I was lucky enough to meet Richard in person, his lively sense of humor and joie de vivre made a wonderful lasting impression. And while i knew of his involvement in the Smith Theater, I had no idea of the ground-breaking fund-raising and hard work that went into his leadership of the theater, nor did I realize the extent of his dedicated support of the arts in Geneva. (Before Richard's tenure at the Smith theater, I - a 1964 William Smith grad - have a vivid flashback of sitting in the Smith Theater to watch a memorable - and interminable -Ingmar Bergman double feature.)
But Geneva is not my only connection to Richard.
His son Chris married my niece, Kimberly Linde Erwin in 1998. Over the years since then, I have fond memories of catching up with Richard during his & Barbara's occasional visits with Chris, Kim, Abby, Sean and Nate here in Maryland.
Offering my deepest condolences to Barbara, her sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. May God's peace and love support you in the wake of this terrible loss.
Love, Susan Linde
susanne mcnally
September 29, 2022
I will never forget Richard's signature words whenever he was saying good bye. "Take the rest of the day off," he would say. And people, high and low, old and young, always smiled or laughed.
He was a great guy, who contributed so much to Geneva.
C.L. Kornowski
September 29, 2022
It was such an honor to get to know Mr. and Mrs. Erwin. He will be missed. Cherylea, P.T.
Linda & George Stevenson
September 29, 2022
Richie you were truly a force in the Geneva community.
Thank you for all the good times and shared laughter, and for being such a great sport - where will we ever find another "May I" player who can be such a gracious loser?
To make a long story short...
We loved you and will miss you, dear friend.
Linda and George
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