Richard Joseph Kohl

Richard (Rick) Joseph Kohl (60) took his final ride surrounded by the people he loved most on October 19, 2024. Though he spent most of his life in East Lyme, Connecticut, Rick spent his final years enjoying the "retired" life with his wife, Yvonne in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, enjoying new places and unsurprisingly, making new friends everywhere they went.

Rick is survived by his wife, Yvonne Kohl, his boys Travis and Andy and brand new daughter-in-law Linde (Travis), his brothers the "Kohl Boys" George, Bill, and Eddie, many nieces and nephews and in-laws including his favorite father and mother-in-laws, Ted and Annette Ainslie. It is important to note that Rick was also survived by the many he has taken under his wing throughout his life. He was predeceased by his father and mother, George and Toni Kohl.

Rick graduated from East Lyme High School in 1983 (He liked 3rd grade so much he did it twice). He started his own butcher shop, then went on to be your friendly neighborhood butcher at A&P, where he became "luckiest man in the world" and met Yvonne. Rick spent his career in many meat rooms, Big Y, Tri-Town (Adam's Market), and finally at Food Lion.

Many knew Rick for being at all the games for his boys (usually in his work clothes), as well as coaching T-ball, serving as President of the East Lyme Babe Ruth ("never again"), and teaching the boys to play pond hockey. Rick had many passions in life, he was a lifetime member of the NRA, a member of the Oakdale Rod & Gun and Sandune Archery Club in Myrtle Beach, and a lifetime lover of dirt biking. When Rick wasn't exploring new places with Yvonne, tinkering around the house, or with his boys, he was golfing, watching the Bruins (missing the Whalers) and Red Sox, listening to Rush, or cuddling the cats he never wanted and pretended not to like.

Rick has been an important part of so many people's lives, whether it be giving a little pointer finger wave to the kids while at work, giving advice on how the insulate an old windy attic, or showing up for people who needed someone to show them that there was someone in the world rooting for them. He never hesitated to give his love and support. He will be greatly missed by us all. Good luck up there with Toni and George, we will all do our best to not have you picking your nose at us.

I'm not looking back, but I want to look around me now

See more of the people and the places that surround me now

Time stand still

RUSH "Time Stand Still", Hold Your Fire

There will be a private burial, and a celebration of life at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers please make donations to:

Folds of Honor