Richard Wilson Gaenzle

Waterford - Richard Wilson Gaenzle of Waterford, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014.

He was born in Kingston, N.Y., on Feb. 20, 1935, the son of the late Reverend Dr. Russell S. Gaenzle and Marion W. Gaenzle.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sally (Williams) Gaenzle; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Billie Gaenzle of Beaufort, S.C.; his son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Maura Gaenzle of Richmond, Va.; and his daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer (Gaenzle) Smith and Colin Smith of Sheffield, Mass. Richard truly adored his five granddaughters, Margaret, Caroline and Isabelle Gaenzle and Norah and Lena Smith; as well as his two nephews, Christopher and Russell Gaenzle; and niece, Emily (Gaenzle) Schilling.

Richard graduated from Albany High School in New York, Gettysburg College (BA), Northeastern University (MBA) and Yale University (MPH).

After a successful sales and marketing career in the building products industry, Richard became a well respected senior executive in the hospital and medical care industry. Richard managed facility improvement projects and new facility construction for University Hospital, Boston; New York University Medical Center, New York; University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago; Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York; and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, New London. He coordinated and managed the development and construction of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital's $500 million Milstein Hospital building.

While at Gettysburg, Richard was a member of the fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, president of the Intra-Fraternity Council, and served as class president all four years. He was given the honorary designation of "Life President of the Senior Class". He was a longtime member of the New York Athletic Club and the American College of Health Care Executives.

Richard was passionate for pool and ocean swimming, running, weight lifting and general physical conditioning. He loved Ocean Beach Park and could be found swimming there most days even long into the fall. When weather forced him indoors, he visited the pool at Connecticut College. Vacationing on Long Beach Island, N.J. was a long held family tradition. He generally loved all things beach, swimming and his dogs, Wilson and Chloe. He was a warrior fighting a terrible disease with great humor until the end. This loving and sensitive man will be greatly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 70 Cross Road in Waterford. The family will receive guests after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Connecticut College Swim Program (Kathy Baer, 860.439.2409, kathleen.baer@conncoll.edu) and the Development Fund at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (365 Montauk Ave., New London, CT 06320).

Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guestbook or share a memory.