Mr. Richard "Dickie" Baptiste

Mr. Richard Allen Baptiste Sr., 70, of Waterbury, passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was the loving husband of Sandy (Siocon) Baptiste. Mr. Baptiste was born December 14, 1950, in Waterbury, CT, son to the late Peter and Adeline (Rogers) Baptiste, Sr. "Dickie", as he was known as, was educated in the Waterbury Public School System, graduating from Crosby High School. Dickie served in the United States Marine Corp during the Vietnam War and was later honorably discharged, as a CPL, in 1974. He then became employed by Hershey Co. (formerly as both Peter Paul and Cadbury) in Naugatuck, CT, for more than 20 years, and Medtronic (formerly known as Covidien) of North Haven, CT, working as a machine mechanic, for 13 years. Richard loved cars and Motown Classics. You would often find him detailing cars while singing and dancing to classic Motown hits. In his younger years, you would see him driving throughout the city on his motorcycles during the summer months. He was also one of the hardest workers you could ever meet; you would call him only to hear him say that he was at work and would need to call you back. He worked up until the day that he passed, refusing to retire. He enjoyed martial arts, receiving his black belt both in Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo. This was an art and a passion that he shared with his grandson Angel, as he proudly mentored him through his journey to obtaining his black belt in Tang Soo Do as well. If you met Richard even once, there is no doubt that he brought a smile to your face. He loved to joke and make people smile. We cannot count the number of friends that he has made over the years, through work, and his previous active presence in the Portuguese and Cape Verdean community. Richard was a loving father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend who will be dearly missed by everyone he touched in life. Besides his wife Sandy, he leaves to cherish his memories his children; Tanisha L Baptiste of Bristol, CT, Richard "RJ" A. Baptiste, Jr, of Waterbury, and Richard A. Baptiste of Baton Rouge, LA, loving father to twin stepdaughters; Chelsey and Chelyne, three grandchildren; Angel (Metri) Velasquez, Tiana M. Acosta, and Marley J. Baptiste, siblings; Helen "Pearl" Byrd, John "JuJu" Baptiste, Deborah Baptiste, James "Donald" Baptiste and Gloria "Chuffy" Velez, several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and a host of cousins and friends. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by five siblings; Peter Baptiste, Jr., Robert Tavares Baptiste, Delores Silva, Marie "Nuchi" Baptiste, and Patricia Baptiste.