Richard J. "Dick" LeBrasseur

Dick LeBrasseur, 70, of Middletown, CT, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2013 at Middlesex Hospital's Weiss Hospice Unit after a living for five years with renal cell carcinoma. He leaves his wife of 30 years, Karen (Bartolotta) LeBrasseur .
Dick was born in Nahma, Michigan, the son of Fern C. LeBrasseur of Muenster, Texas and the late Clayton J. LeBrasseur . Besides his wife and mother, he leaves his son, Rick LeBrasseur, of Edinburgh, Scotland and his daughter, Andrea LeBrasseur, of Centerbrook, CT; his brother and sister-in-law Jon and Monica LeBrasseur of Muenster, TX; his niece, Kristin LeBrasseur, of Dallas, TX; his aunt and uncle with whom he lived during his high school years, Wilma and Elroy Zimmermann of Escanaba, Michigan; many cousins - especially Judy Gaston of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota.. He also leaves his father-in-law, Angelo Bartolotta, of Middletown, CT. He was predeceased by his mother-in-law, Helen Bartolotta. He leaves many friends, old and new, who have provided endless love and support to both Karen and Dick during his long illness.
Dick graduated from the University of Michigan in 1965 with a B.A. in English followed by an M.A. in Administration and Curriculum Development. He was a Regents Scholar and was awarded a C.S. Mott Fellowship.
Dick's career spanned 30 years in the Education and Publishing business. He began his career as a high school English teacher in Grand Blanc, Michigan. In 1968, he was hired by American Education Publications (My Weekly Reader) where he held many positions including editorial, marketing and advertising until he later became President and CEO of the Weekly Reader Corporation owned by Primedia Corporation. He ended his publishing career in New York City as President of the Primedia Supplemental Education Group as well as having been elected as a Corporate Vice President of Primedia, Inc.
After he retired, Dick spent five years as a Middlesex Hospital Hospice Volunteer. His time as a Hospice Volunteer was a spiritually rewarding experience.
Dick loved life. He was a voracious reader, a quick wit, loved music and dancing, the ocean at East Beach in Rhode Island and he was an avid sports fan especially enjoying golf, the NY Yankees and the NCAA March Madness tournaments. Go Blue!
The family wishes to thank his doctors and caregivers, especially Dr. Mark Kimmel who was with him every step of this journey -- also thank you to the staffs at Middlesex Oncology and Middlesex Hospital Hospice who preserved his dignity and provided physical and mental support to Dick and all of us.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Middlesex Hospital Weiss Hospice Unit, 28 Crescent St., Middletown, CT 06457. A service will be held at D'Angelo Funeral Home, 22 South Main St. in Middletown on Tuesday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family may call from 10:00 to 11:00 prior to the service.
Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.