Richard Earl Bergquist

Richard Earl Bergquist ObituaryRichard E. Bergquist
Army Veteran, East Litchfield Volunteer Fireman
Richard Earl Bergquist, 95, of East Litchfield, died on April 1, 2025 at UCONN Hospital in
Farmington.
Richard was born on Aug. 28, 1929 in Redding, CT to Vena and Gustav Bergquist, the second of their three children.
Following graduation from Danbury High School, Richard attended Becker Junior College in Worcester, MA. With an Associate Degree in Business Administration, he accepted a position at the Torrington Company. In 1951 he took an absence from his job to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After more than two years, upon his discharge as a Sergeant First Class, he resumed his position in Cost Accounting and worked at the Torrington Company for 40 years, until retiring in 1991. Richard continued his education in Accounting and Finance in the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management within the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College. Completing their course in 1970.
Richard purchased his East Litchfield home in 1954 and soon after experienced the 1955 flood of the Naugatuck River watershed. Being evacuated from his home and spending at least one night in the back of a tractor-trailer truck with his neighbors. He was a staunch watchman for the East Litchfield area and often rallied the neighbors to be aware of town issues affecting them, particularly with regard to zoning issues and development of the area.
Richard and his wife, Marjorie, enjoyed traveling and their trip around the world is something they both still treasure and talk about frequently.
As a teenager, Richard joined the Redding Grange #15 and learned the importance of service to one's community. He was a member there for over 50 years and his service to his community was evident throughout his life.
Richard was enterprising and ran his own tax services business, which always made January through April very busy at his home. He also joined both the Seneca Masonic Lodge #55 A.F. & A. M. in Torrington and the East Litchfield Volunteer Fire Department early in his East Litchfield residence. He organized the Fellowcraft Bowling League on behalf of the Masons for many years, introducing his daughters to a sport they still enjoy. He held a variety of positions with the ELFVD including over 20 years as Treasurer and ten as Fire Commissioner. He also helped often after retirement with building maintenance projects, even if it just meant being there to unlock the door for a contractor.
For professional reasons, Richard also joined the National Association of Cost Accountants in 1954, which became the National Association of Accountants, and is now known as the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). He served the organization on local and national levels and assisted in the formation of the New England Regional Council within NAA, of which he was very proud.
Richard is survived by his wife, Marjorie, his daughters, Seema-Jayne Kenney and Kama-Lynn Hamilton as well as four grandsons; Sean Kenney, Thomas Hamilton, Ryan Kenney and Tyler Kenney, and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel of St. Michael's Church, Litchfield on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 2:00pm. The family encourages donations to Saint Michael's Church in Litchfield in his name.
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Richard E. Bergquist
Army Veteran, East Litchfield Volunteer Fireman
Richard Earl Bergquist, 95, of East Litchfield, died on April 1, 2025 at UCONN Hospital in
Farmington.
Richard was born on Aug. 28, 1929 in Redding, CT to Vena and Gustav Bergquist, the second of their three children.