Obituary of Richard Clarke DeAngelis, Sr.

Dr. Richard C. DeAngelis, age 89, died at home on May 29,2025.  He was the husband of Mary DeAngelis.  His parents were Anne and Frank DeAngelis.  Richard graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School, Fairfield University with a BSS and MA and St. John’s University with a PhD in Asian History.

While serving in the Air Force, Richard studied Chinese language at Yale University.  He flew Sig-int reconnaissance missions as a Chinese linguist in East Asia during the early years of the Cold War. These flights tracked the activities of the Chinese and North Korean Air Forces.

Professor Emeritus DeAngelis retired from Fairfield University where he served as Chairman of the History Department for 12 years.  After retirement Richard was active in the Fairfield Senior Center. There he served as President and formed a model airplane flying club that is still thriving today. With history and aviation as lifelong interests, Richard was very proud of his service in the United States Air Force.

In addition to his wife Mary, Richard is survived by children: Richard Jr., Mary Ellen, Gregory and wife Karen, Douglas and wife Bethany. Grandchildren: Kayleigh, Christopher, Alcy, Erika, Hayden, Skylan, Eric Jones and wife Emalee, Diana Jones. He is also survived by brother Frank DeAngelis and wife Laura Aronson, sister-in-law Agnes Esposito, brother-in-law Vincent Esposito and several nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the nurses and health aides of Mozaic Senior Life for a year of compassionate Home Hospice Care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. directly in St. Lawrence Church, 505 Shelton Ave., Shelton. Interment with full military honors will follow in Lawncroft Cemetery, Fairfield. Friends may greet the family on Sunday, June 8, 2025 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Richard DeAngelis may be made to the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University Office of Advancement, 1073 North Benson Rd., Fairfield, CT 06825 or to Mozaic Senior Life, Attn: Foundation, 4200 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604 (www.mozaicsl.org). For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com.