41°
BLAUVELT, N.Y. -- Blauvelt resident Col. Richard E. "Dick" MacFadden died on Friday, March 11. He was 84.
After graduating from high school, MacFadden served his country for over 65 years. He joined the United States National Guard and enlisted in the United States Army in 1953. He retired as a full colonel from the United States Army Reserves in 1983, but was an admissions liaison officer to Congressman Ben Gilman and Elliot Engel for West Point until 2014. He loved Army football games at West Point.
MacFadden received a BBA in industrial relations and an MBA in management, and was an honor graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff College. He was a senior product consultant at Metropolitan Life, retiring in 1991. He served on many boards and commissions in his 44 years with the Blauvelt Lions Club, was once its president, was elected to district governor, and was actively involved in Guiding Eyes for the Blind and People to People.
MacFadden was also a founding member and president of the Blauvelt T-Shirt League -- now known as the South Orangetown Little League. He was also president of the Liberty Patch Rifle and Pistol Club and was a member of the Town of Orangetown Tri-Centennial Committee.
He is survived by his children, Karen and her husband Thomas Jahnes of Blauvelt, Kathy and her husband Dale Webster of West Oneonta, and Richard MacFadden Jr. and his wife Kathy of Monroe; grandchildren Jessica and Jaclyn Jahnes, Kristen and Katie Webster, and Mary, Samantha and Richard MacFadden III; brother Kenneth, sister Joyce, half-sisters Cheryl and Charlotte, and half-brother Edwin; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and family friends.
MacFadden was predeceased by his wife, Mary (Mahoney) MacFadden; parents Edwin and Lydia (DiGiosa) MacFadden; and his sister Marilyn and her husband Frank.
Visiting hours were at the Moritz Funeral Home, in Tappan. A funeral mass was held at St. Catharine's Church in Blauvelt with burial following at Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill. Donation may be made to either the American Cancer Society, by clicking here, or the United Hospice of Rockland, by clicking here.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Tappan-Blauvelt and receive free news updates.
