Richie Roefaro

"Richie" Roefaro, age 46, was taken from us, unexpectedly, on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Richie was born in Utica, NY and graduated from Proctor High School. Upon graduating, Richie moved to New York City, following his love for creativity. Richie would receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Advertising and Communications and then a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Editing from Hunter College. Richie's career was in the film industry, working at Miramax Pictures and Technicolor Corporation as a contributing editor for many films (https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2193737/fullcredits). After spending over twenty years in NYC, he moved back home, to Utica, for a more well-rounded life, where he embraced his love of family, passion as a collector and the music that soothed his being.

In addition, to a day job where Richie was the most upbeat and friendly of those in Customer Service, he would spend countless hours focused on his love of collecting unique memorabilia. For Richie, collecting was a creative art, a process that would allow him to be free from the constraints of daily life and a connection to a world bigger than him. Richie took pride in selling those things that others considered a treasure less focused on financial gain, but for the connection.

We lost Richie at a turning point in his life, the turning point was not an event or moment in time, it was a cumulation of hard work and a journey of being true to himself, investing in friendships, asking for support, and overcoming hurdles that were seemingly insurmountable. We are beyond saddened to lose Richie so suddenly due to unforeseen heart failure. Richie had found a sense of contentment for where he was and who he would be in the future and was full of hope as an expectant father.

""Everything will be ok in the end, and if it's not ok, it's not the end."" – John Lennon

Richie's loving spirit and unforgettable nature made him a one-of-a-kind person that cannot be expressed in words. Richie was a kind and beautiful soul, that only spoke good of life, of people and touched the lives of all he shared memories with.

Richie is survived by and deeply missed by his mother, Sharon; father, Louis; sister, Sommer; daughter, Nalyiah; nieces, Adeline and Juniper; brother-in-law, Will; and the love of his life, Wendy; aunts and uncles, Renato Jr. and Ann Roefaro, Maryann Roefaro and husband, Tom Carranti, Lynnanne and Tom Jung and Raymond and Rosemary Pecheone; grandmother, Carol Roefaro; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and dear friends.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Renato and Angela Roefaro; and his maternal grandparents, Raymond and Anne Pecheone.

He touched the lives of more people than one can mention.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 1-3 p.m. at The Scala & Roefaro Funeral Home, Inc., 1122 Culver Avenue. His Celebration of Life will commence at the conclusion of visitation at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Private entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

Online sympathy at www.scalaroefaro.com.