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Richard Rowland Blackwell
Richard Rowland Blackwell
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Richard Blackwell Obituary
Richard was born on June 6th, 1943, in Washington, DC. After growing up in Alabama, and later attending the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, he served two years in the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Following his service, Richard graduated from Harvard Business School with his MBA and spent his early career working in marketing at Procter and Gamble. He later owned and operated Amalgamated Produce Inc., a hydroponic produce manufacturing farm located in the heart of Bridgeport, CT. During his retirement, he devoted much of his time volunteering within the Woodbridge community, tutoring aspiring entrepreneurs through Score and setting up educational opportunities for young women within Cambodia.
Richard enjoyed learning and was an avid reader. He loved to travel, explore and had a fondness for animals. His excitement while discussing new scientific discoveries and interesting facts was contagious. His curiosity and zeal for learning were worthy of admiration.
He is survived by his sons Matthew V. Blackwell and Gregory E. Blackwell, daughter Laura B. Marks, and seven Grandchildren Nathan, Ava, Jack, and Emma Blackwell, Caleb, Noah, and Zoey Marks. He was predeceased by his parents Dr. Claude Cicero Blackwell, Mary Latham Rowland, as well as his daughter Lindsay V. Blackwell.
Services will be private. Per his wishes, he will be laid to rest alongside his mother in North Carolina.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Amanda Oram
December 22, 2024
I was a penpal with Mr. Blackwell in middle school (around 2019 - 2020) and sadly lost contact a little over the pandemic. I´ve always meant to reach out, and never got the chance. I couldn´t shake the feeling of wanting to find him, and I am deeply sorry for this families loss. I remember how excited he was when I believe his grandson, Noah, was born. I´m nearing the end of high school, and I´ve always wanted to thank Richard for his time. Thank you to his family, and again, I´m sorry for this loss.
Matt Blackwell
April 19, 2024
Gwen Higaki
April 13, 2024
Gwen Higaki
April 13, 2024
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Gwen Higaki
April 13, 2024
I am very thankful that Dick´s daughter Laura visited Cambodia through Youth With A Mission (YWAM), fell in love with its people, and shared the experience with her parents. Dick sponsored several initiatives of BrightStart Learning, the charity my husband and I founded to provide educational assistance to Cambodian children. He became a dear friend around our common interest in assisting disadvantaged children in a country that continues to recover from the setbacks of genocide in the 1970s.
I adored Dick´s inquisitive nature from the moment we met in 2015. He is the first sponsor who asked me, "What else can I do?" That simple question led us to explore new initiatives together. Initially, Dick funded several instructors in math and science subjects to help dozens of BrightStart students pass their Grade 12 national examination.
In 2016, Dick and I brainstormed the design of a scholarship home that would enable young women from remote Cambodian villages to finish high school and beyond. The Mary Blackwell Scholarship Home, in honor of Dick´s mother, has since produced many university and high school graduates. But the capstone feature of Dick´s home design was the gentle introduction of Jesus Christ into their living and studies. Every Buddhist girl who entered the Mary Blackwell Scholarship Home has become a Christian. Nor was Dick a passive sponsor. He loved to encourage the girls in their faith through letters and internet conversations.
"What else can I do?" . . . . Dick provided seed funds to start BrightStart´s Neary Clahan ("Brave Woman") Learning and Wellness Center and our latest vocational education initiative, both with Christ-centered teachings. Dick´s generosity will continue to change the course of many lives in Cambodia for the glory of God.
Dick´s compassion for the underdog was evident in everything we did together, except for one . . . college football. He and my husband Vernon joined in the rivalry between Ohio State and Alabama, and Dick won most of the bragging rights. However, as hard as he tried, he never got Vernon to say "Roll Tide!"
The staff and students of BrightStart Learning send their condolences. My husband and I celebrate the time we had with a dear friend and brother in Christ until we meet again.
Gwen Higaki, Executive Director Emeritus
BrightStart Learning, Inc.
Yolanda Goodwin
April 10, 2024
Richard Blackwell was a good Christian man, I know he is in heaven with his best friend Ben. May God bless his family and give them divine peace in their time of sorrow. We will always love you, Richard and cherish every memory. The Goodwin family
Anthony Smith Rorie
April 10, 2024
Doing work on the apartment he rented out in Cheshire Ct. He was a very delightful individual to have chat about life.
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