Obituary of Richard Marchant

Richard Darton "Dart" Marchant, 85, passed away suddenly at his home in Glastonbury, CT on 21 Sept 2013. He was born in Kingston NY, 22 March 1928, son of the late Richard L. and Lillian (Dederick) Marchant. He graduated as valedictorian from Ellenville High School (Ellenville NY) 1946. He graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy NY) in 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy (1950-1953) as Lt. JG Atlantic Fleet on Robert L Wilson DD847 (destroyer) and Pacific Fleet, Amphibious Force on flagship El Dorado (AGC15). He graduated with a Master of Mechanical Engineering from Hartford Graduate Center of RPI (Hartford CT) in 1960. He was employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Aug 1953 - Aug 1991, as a Development Engineer. He was a former member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and received an ASME Achievement Award for Compressor Research for Jet Engines (published paper). He was a longtime member of the Hartford Ski Club (1950's - 1980's) with a life-long enjoyment of skiing. He never took a lesson - just learned from others. He purchased his first set of skis from Montgomery Ward through the catalog, but had to attach the metal edge himself, using 150 screws per ski, at age 13-14. He enjoyed singing with the RPI Glee Club, then the Hartford Chorale (1953 - 1982), and the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury (~1960 until 1987). He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and the Long Trail Association. He enjoyed classical music concerts, Hartford Symphony, etc. He was a longtime member of the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury (joining in 1958). He organized and lead the Outdoor Experience group, involved in exploring the wonders of nature by camping, hiking and canoeing, throughout New England. His major hiking accomplishment was almost finishing The Long Trail of Vermont (Canadian Border to Massachusetts border) with longtime friend John Higgins (short just 2 miles). He enjoyed the summers at Lake Winnipesaukee (NH). Other activities included tennis, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and snowshoeing. He enjoyed travel, particularly after retirement, to Europe, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, South America, and Alaska, including Habitat for Humanity projects in Hartford and Hungary. Participation at the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury included the Christian Education Committee, the Ministerial Selection Committee, the Organ Committee, and the Music Committee. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marilyn (Kidder) "Suki" Marchant; sister Shirley Audrey (Marchant) Mearns of Kingston, NY; son Daniel and wife Linda of Ware MA, daughter Susan (Marchant) Durham and partner Tim Jones of Tortola , British Virgin Islands, son Thomas and wife Mary of Glastonbury CT, son Jonathan and wife JoAnn of Sanbornton NH, and daughter Jean Marchant of Enfield NH; his seven grandchildren include Michelle Allen, Kathy Norman, Sarah Marchant, Francis Marchant, Nick Marchant, Zoli Marchant, and Hannah Marchant; and two great grandchildren Taylor and Leah Allen; nieces and nephews Kate (Mearns) Ohno, Richard Mearns, Ronald Kidder and predeceased by James Kidder. A service of remembrance will be held at the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury on Saturday, 28 Sept 2013 beginning at 10:00am. A reception will be held following the service. A private interment will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Saugerties NY. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that charitable donations be made in the donor's name to the American Red Cross or the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury.