Ian Timothy Richards

In Loving Memory of Ian Timothy Richards

It is with the heaviest of hearts that the Richards family shares the sudden passing of their beloved Ian Timothy Richards on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the age of 36, following a tragic swimming accident.

Ian was a devoted fiancé, a cherished son and brother, and the dearest friend to so many. He is survived by his parents, Paul and Patricia; his fiancée, Leah; his brother, Kevin; and his sister, Maryrose (John). Ian was loved beyond measure by his family and by every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path.

Born on August 25, 1988, in Manhattan, where he and his family lived during his early childhood, Ian primarily grew up in Pleasantville and Ossining, New York, and most recently lived in Pennsylvania in a converted country tavern lovingly transformed so that it felt as if you were stepping into a storybook. Together with his siblings, Ian attended St. Theresa's School in Briarcliff Manor, where his family has been longtime parishioners. He graduated as valedictorian from The Montfort Academy in Katonah, continued his studies at the St. Thomas More College of Liberal Arts and The Erasmus Institute in New Hampshire, and later earned a master's degree in literature from the University of Dallas. His passion for words, beauty, and truth was woven into the very fabric of his life.

Ian had the gentlest soul and warmest eyes, kind, intuitive, and profoundly empathetic. A true lover of language and poetry, he had a gift for finding just the right words and for loving others through quiet, thoughtful gestures. He noticed the smallest details in people, the ones often left unseen, and responded in ways that made others feel deeply known and cared for. He met people where they were, recognized their goodness and potential, and lifted them simply by being himself.

He was the joy of his family - a devoted son and a protective, loving brother whose creativity and curiosity brightened every room. Ian's relationship with Leah was a testament to love rooted in wonder and understanding, where two artistic souls found a true home in each other. Their bond was gentle yet strong, fierce yet tender, and brought out the very best in him.

Ian's mind was endlessly alive with curiosity. He was a poet, musician, artist, fisherman, bread baker, winemaker, carpenter, and traveler. He carried a passion for cooking, a fascination with how things worked, and a drive to build and create, a legacy he inherited from his mother and his grandfather, Art. Ian was wise beyond his years, yet playful and childlike in the best ways. Clever, thoughtful, well-read, and a bit mischievous - like a leprechaun with a graduate degree - he balanced it all with humility and deep care.

He loved to sing, laugh, and was always ready to dance, a contagious Richards family trait he embodied with his own interpretive flair. Ian had so many dreams still ahead of him: more poems to write, more ideas to share, more beauty to offer the world, and so many more people to meet and love. His loss leaves an ache beyond words, a space that can never truly be filled. Yet those who love Ian are profoundly grateful for the gift of time with him and changed forever by having known him. His light, laughter, and love will live on in every heart he touched.

His family and friends will carry him forward by noticing wonder in the everyday, showing gentleness and compassion, and pausing to savor each sunrise, each delicious meal, each cozy cup of coffee, or a spontaneous dance party. They will always remember Ian's heart woven through those simple, meaningful joys. We trust that he now rests in the peace of God, and that his memory will live on through quiet acts of kindness, in poetry, in music, and in every shared moment of joy that reflects who he was. There was truly no one like Ian. He will be missed forever and held in the hearts of all who love him, now and always.

Wake
Tuesday, July 1
Waterbury & Kelly Funeral Home
1300 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm

Mass of Christian Burial
Wednesday, July 2, 11 am
St. Theresa Church
1394 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510

Interment
St. Augustine Cemetery
Hawkes Avenue, Ossining, NY 10562

On behalf of the Richards family, please keep Ian, his family, and all who mourn him in your prayers. Thank you for your love, compassion, and support.