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Richard O. Cheney Mystic, CT QCWA # 29650 Chapter 149 |
Richard Otis Cheney III, 84, of Mystic, CT, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, surrounded by his loving family. Dick was born in Manchester, CT on May 19, 1925; one of identical twin sons of Ruth Tiffany Cheney (later Segur) and Richard O. Cheney, Jr. His father was a Principal of the Cheney Brothers Silk Mills and President of the South Manchester Railroad.
Dick was educated in Manchester and at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, and graduated from the Taft School in Watertown. His senior year at Taft was interrupted by military service with the Army Signal Corps during WWII.He and his twin brother, Douglas, served together in New Caledonia, Leyte, Okinawa and South Korea.Following his distinguished service, he returned to complete his studies at Taft and subsequently attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA. There he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and met the love of his life.He married Marguerite D. Cheney on September 28, 1950. They moved to New Britain, CT where he began what was to be a 40 year career with The Stanley Works ending his career as the Senior Facilities Engineer. During his career, he took advantage of Stanley Work's continuing educational plan to earn an M.B.A. from the University of Hartford.
Dick and Marge relocated to Kensington, where they raised 3 children and were active in many civic and social organizations. They were members of the Shuttle Meadow Country Club, Masons Island Yacht Club, and were founding members of the Stonington Country Club.
Dick was an active Rotarian in New Britain and later Mystic Clubs; Unity Masonic Lodge; served on the Board of Directors with the New Britain YMCA and the New Britain Youth Museum. He and Marge were also members of the PILOTS volunteer program at Mystic Seaport, and until recently he regularly worked at the Seaport helping to rebuild many antique marine engines.
In 1963 he acquired a summer cottage on Masons Island in Mystic where the family enjoyed many happy summers. In the years preceding his retirement, he and Marge relocated to Masons Island where they spent many happy and active years together.Besides his parents, Dick was predeceased by his beloved wife of 54 years, Marguerite D. Cheney; his identical twin brother, Douglas Tiffany Cheney; and his youngest grandson, Alexander E. Cheney (son of Richard&Lorraine).
He leaves behind his beloved children: Susan and James Carney, of Winchester, MA; Ralph and Catherine Cheney, of New Britain, CT; and Richard and Lorraine Cheney IV, of Somers, CT., along with his 5 grandsons, Todd Cheney (New Britain/Chicago), Ben Cheney (New Britain), Douglas Carney (Winchester, MA), Richard O. Cheney, V (Somers), and Brian Carney (Winchester, MA).The family will receive friends Sunday, February 21st from 2-5 pm at the Mystic Funeral Home Route 1 Mystic (51 Williams Ave). Funeral services will continue on Monday, February 22nd at 11:00 AM at the Mystic Congregational Church 43 East Main St. Mystic. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Rotary International Polio Plus
http://www.rotary.org or to the Mystic Seaport http://www.mysticseaport.org