Royalton, Vt. —
Richard was born on Jan. 24, 1943, in Boston, Mass. to Francis J. Dermody, Jr., and Anna M. (Flynn) Dermody. He was the eldest of five siblings. When he was five years old, the family moved to Orleans, Vt., where his father began a career in education following his military service in WW II. Richard attended several Vermont elementary schools, including Orleans, Brattleboro, Johnson and Essex as the family moved several times during his father’s teaching career. “Dick” graduated from Essex Junction (VT) High School in June of 1960 and from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt., in June of 1964, earning his B.A. in Political Science.
Richard’s military career began as an ROTC cadet at St. Michael’s. On Sept. 30, 1960, he entered into active duty in the United States Air Force (USAF) at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, Texas. While most of his Air Force career was devoted to work in AF intelligence (formerly Security Service), he was assigned to the 554th RECON Squadron, Korat Air Base, Thailand, during the Viet Nam war, completing 100 airborne missions as of 27 Oct. 1968. He was Commander of the 6985th Squadron at Eielson AFB, Ark., in the mid 70’s and later was assigned to the Air Force Inspector General’s (IG) team. He retired from active duty on Sept. 30, 1987, with rank of Major, having completed 23 years of honorable service to his country and the USAF. Throughout his military career he earned many honors and awards including the Viet Nam Service Metal w/ 4 Bronze Stars, the Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm, the Air Metal w/ 7 OLC, the National Defense Service Metal and the Meritorious Service Metal w/ 3 OLC.
He met his wife, Carole (Gage), while stationed at McChord AFB, Tacoma, Wash. They were married May 25, 1974, in the First Congregational Church of Royalton, in an ecumenical service performed by Rev. Doris K. Rikert and Fr. Robert Williams. Following his retirement from the USAF, the couple moved to her native Vermont in 1988 and has lived in Royalton since that time. He worked in the computer technology field until his ‘official’ retirement in 2008. Always community service-minded, he served 10 years on the Royalton Planning Commission. In April 2014, he was appointed by the Royalton Selectboard as the Town’s Representative to the East Central Vermont Telecommunications District (EC Fiber) Governing Board and was active in that group until his untimely death.
Encouraged by his parents, his father, an educator, and his mother, a librarian; he developed a love of reading at the age of three years old. He was especially well read on military history, a life-long interest, and was well versed in the latest computer technology. He became fascinated with model railroading at an early age, a hobby that continued throughout the years, with focus on recreating Vermont railroads during the ‘glory days’ of steam. He was keenly aware of the many facets of this hobby, which not only involves building exact scale models of trains of a specific era, but also includes studying the history of Vermont in order to recreate buildings, villages, infrastructure, and landscapes exactly as they appeared during that era. He was a charter member of the Central Vermont Railway Historical Society (CVRHS) and served on their Board of Directors from 1995 to the present. From 1991 to 2014, he was Associate Editor, Editor, and most recently, Consulting Editor, of the CVRHS monthly magazine, “The Ambassador.” He was a member of the Rutland Railroad Historical Society but relinquished his active staff participation during a period of ill health in 2008. He was also a 50-year member of the St. Michael’s College Alumni Association.
In addition to worldwide travel with the USFA, one of his fondest memories involved a trip to Ireland in 2007 with his mother, then 87, and other family members, to visit the country of his family’s origin and explore their ancestral heritage.
Richard is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carole; three brothers, Christopher and his wife Nancy of St. Albans; Brian and his wife Alice of Barre; Kevin and his wife Karen of Danville, N.H.; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, as well as cousins Debbie, John, and Abigail.
He was pre-deceased by his parents, Frank and Anna; a sister, Duana Kathleen, who died in 1949 at age two months; his maternal and paternal grandparents, Francis J. and Mary Dermody; and John J. and Julia Flynn; uncles John, James, and Thomas Flynn; aunt and uncle, Margaret (Flynn) and Wendell Wright; an aunt and uncle Mary (Dermody) and Walter Worsdell; and cousins Katherine Wright and Richard Worsdell.
Calling hours will be held Friday Aug. 26, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home, 300 VT Route 110, Chelsea, Vt. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday Aug. 27, 2016, with Rev. Andrew Bednarovicz officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Riverview Cemetery, VT Route 14 in South Royalton. Friends and family are invited to share a time of remembrance and fellowship at the Royalton Academy Building, 4226 VT Route 14, in Royalton Village, immediately following the grave-side service.
Flowers are always appreciated or a memorial contribution in Richard’s name can be made to a charity of one’s choice.
A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com.