Richard F. Whearty Obituary
Richard F. Whearty passed away peacefully on March 2nd, 2022, at the age of 82, at his apartment at Brightview Senior Living in Annandale Virginia. He had recently relocated to Virginia to be closer to family after being a lifelong New York resident, living in Poughkeepsie from 1997 to 2021.
Richard was born September 28, 1939 in Brooklyn, NY, the youngest son of Thomas J. Whearty, Sr., and Margaret Flaherty Whearty.. He grew up in Great Neck and Garden City New York. He graduated in June 1957 from Chaminade High School in Mineola NY. He did his undergraduate studies at both the University of Notre Dame and Cathedral College in Brooklyn. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Cathedral in 1961. In May 1965, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. He served as an assistant parish priest in Huntington and East Rockaway NY. He resigned from the ministry in 1974.He entered Saint John’s University School of Law and received his J.D Degree in June 1976.
In September 1974, in Newton NJ, Richard married the love of his life, Marie Barbara Schreiner. They remained married for 29 years until she passed away in January 2004. They raised seven children together, 5 boys and 2 girls.
Richard was admitted to the Bar of the State of NY in March 1977. He spent his entire career as a court attorney in the appellate division of New York State Supreme Court, Second Department, and in Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District. He retired in February 2006 and remained a member of the New York State Bar Association until his death.
From 1989 to 1996, he was the chairman of the planning board of the Town of Beekman. He was a patient care volunteer for Hospice from 2005 until the pandemic hit. He was also a volunteer tutor for Literacy Connections, Dutchess County, for many years.
Richard was a lifelong chess player, a member of the Vassar Chadwick Chess Club. A devout Catholic, he was a long-time parishioner of Saint Mary’s Church in Poughkeepsie. An animal lover, he had many cats and dogs over the years, and talked often of his Irish Wolfhound Seamus, long after Seamus had predeceased him. A history buff and consumer of knowledge, he had a seemingly bottomless knowledge of old movies and 1940’s radio shows. He and his wife were long-suffering Mets fans; he had grown up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and transferred his allegiance to the Mets in 1962. When he wasn’t watching or listening to the Mets or the Fighting Irish, he could be found in his rocking chair watching old movies or reading his latest book.
Richard was predeceased by his wife Marie Schreiner Whearty, his brother Thomas J. Whearty, Jr. of Needham, Massachusetts, and his half-brother Raymond. He is survived by his brother Robert Whearty of Alexandria VA, his children Carlos Whearty of Poughkeepsie, NY, Andrew Whearty of Fairfax, VA, Deyanira Whearty of Madison, WI, Bartholomew Whearty of Williston, VT, Matthew Whearty of Bedford NH, Patrick Whearty of Las Vegas, NV, and Erica Whearty of Scottsdale, AZ. He is also survived by his grandson Gabriel Long (Madison, WI), his grandson Arthur Whearty (Bedford, NH), and many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces. We remember him as a wonderful man and a swell chess player.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 13 from 4-7 pm at Parmele, Auchmoody & Schoonmaker Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Ave., Poughkeepsie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, March 14 at 10 am from St. Mary’s Church, 231 Church St., Poughkeepsie. Interment will follow in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Please visit http://www.hudsonvalleyfuneralhomes.com for directions and condolences.
