Capt. Richard John Teich USNR

Richard John Teich

Troy Richard John Teich, retired Captain in the United States Navy, died quietly at his home in Troy on Friday evening, November 7,2003. Born July 8,1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he earned his Bachelors of Science in Engineering from Drexel University in 1937 and immediately joined the Naval Right Training in Pensacola, Florida where he received his wings in 1938. He married Anna Maud Stephenson in August 1, 1942 in Honolulu, Hawaii. In World War II he flew PBY's on reconnaissance missions in the Pacific Theatre. He was awarded the Distinguished Hying Cross, Navy Unit Commendation, World War II Victory, American Defense, American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Before coming to Troy, he served as Vice Commander of Pacific Missile Range, Point Mugu, California (1962-1964). In 1964 he was assigned as commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Training Corps Unit and Professor of Naval Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; while in that position he earned a Masters Degree in Management. After retirement from the Navy in 1968, he joined RPI as Director of Continuing Education. Active in the community, he had served as past president of the Troy Chapter of Rotary International, a member of Literacy Volunteers of America, a volunteer at Samaritan Hospital, and a former member of the Country Club of Troy before moving to Beechwood Retirement Community in 2000. His lifetime interests included carpentry, Egyptian history and archeology, and classical music.

He is survived by his loving family: wife Anne, three children Richard, Anne, and Babette, and two granddaughters. Laurel and Elizabeth Visco.

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