Police Officer From Bridgeport Who Enjoyed Stargazing With A Cigar Has Died At 67

New Haven County resident Thomas K. Richard, of Ansonia,  died on Friday, Jan. 12, according to his obituary.

Born in Fairfield County in Bridgeport on Sunday, July 8, 1956, and a long-time resident of Ansonia, where he lived with his family for more than 39 years, Thomas served in the Trumbull Police Department as a full-time traffic officer specializing in accident reconstruction before retiring from his assignment and transitioning to a part-time role working special duty jobs with the department, his obituary said.

He will be remembered by many for his warm smile and demeanor, his willingness to always lend a helping hand when someone was in need, and his kindness to all, the obituary added.

The Trumbull Police Department said "Tom will be remembered for his kind demeanor and affable personality, and we will miss his signature smile."

In his downtime, Thomas loved caring for his yard or his garden where he grew some of the hottest peppers you would ever eat, going for walks and drives with his wife Linda, or finding something to fix. 

"He especially enjoyed helping his son Thomas with any project around the house and traveling to visit his son Jeffrey's family in California, where he marveled at the sites, especially the Golden Gate Bridge," his obituary said. "While he liked keeping busy, he also enjoyed sitting back and relaxing on his back deck stargazing with a cigar, or sitting beside the fire."

Thomas was predeceased by his parents and his brother Kenneth. He is survived by his wife Linda Richard, two sons Thomas Richard Jr. and his husband Alex Silva, and Jeffrey Richard and his wife Danielle Richard, his granddaughter Madelyn Richard, and his siblings Priscilla Beringer Faustini and her husband Robert, Susan E. Varrone and her husband Joseph, John T. Richard and his wife Maryellen, and Margaret Richard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, Jan. 22, at noon in the Church of the Assumption, 23 N Cliff St. in Ansonia. 

In place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association to support the Officer Wellness Committee on his behalf, Please send contributions made out to the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association to the John T Bennett Funeral Home: 91 N Cliff St. in Ansonia, 06401, (203) 735-1578.

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