Richard Katstra

Richard Donald Katstra, better known as Dick Katstra, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at 5:04 p.m. in the comfort of his residence in Warwick, in the loving arms of his friend, partner and husband, Cesar Venegas.

Born Nov. 6, 1935, at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey, he was the son of Jan Katstra and Helen Chmielowiec.

He was married to his friend and partner of 27 years, Cesar Venegas.

He is also survived by his older brother, John Katstra and his wife, Trudy, and his nieces and nephew, Liza, Katy and Jon Katstra.

He went to Wallington Elementary School in New Jersey and graduated from East Rutherford High School, N.J., in 1953.

He went to Virginia Tech, where he graduated with a bachelors in chemistry and a masters in physics.

Soon after he graduated, he was drafted by the Army, where he was hired to work for the Defense Nuclear Agency. During this period, he was stationed in Texas, Arizona and Hawaii.

After being discharged from the Army, he worked at Witco, Conoco, Avon Products and Mona, retiring in 2000.

He had nine patents in a group with other people: one for Witco (1972), one for Conoco (1972), one for Avon products (1988) and six for Mona (1999)

Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Stephen's R.C. Church, followed by interment in Warwick Cemetery.

Memorial donations in his name may be sent to American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305 or Alzheimer's Association, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 103, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

For further information, directions or to send an online condolence, see www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.