Plan for the Future
Richard W. Proctor, 76, of Summit, New Jersey passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at Arden Courts, Whippany, NJ.
Dick, as he was known to most, was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania to the late Dr. William W. and Bernice (Hall) Proctor. He attended Grove City College, earning a B.S. in Accounting and was a member of the Epsilon Pi fraternity. After college, Dick proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, stationed in Topeka, KS, and married his college sweetheart, Patty. He earned the rank of Captain as a Medical Administrative Officer during the Vietnam War. While serving four and a half years, he spent time in Turkey and Germany.
After serving his country, Dick attended Xavier University, obtaining a Master of Health Services Administration degree after completing his residency at Overlook Hospital, Summit, NJ. He worked as an administrator at Overlook for 18 years before resigning as the Senior Vice President in 1990. He later co-founded a successful executive search company serving the tri-state area and retired in 2005.
Dick resided in Summit for 48 years and his memberships included the Rotary Club, Hampshire Investment Club, Summit Board of Recreation, and the Downtown Club, among others. He was also the stage manager for the annual Brayton School PTA Variety Shows for 17 years and was a member of the Lake Lackawanna LLIC Board of Directors.
A long time parishioner of Christ Church Summit, he served on the Board of Trustees, was Chairman of the Christ Church Memorial Garden, and served as an usher for decades.
After retirement, Dick and Patty spent many winter vacations in Bonita Springs, FL. He was an avid tennis player for 50 years and had a great love for boating and the game of bridge. He happily spent 40 consecutive summers residing at his cherished lake house in Sussex County, NJ.
Family and friends will fondly remember him as a kind, gentle man, with a commanding presence of quick wit and tremendous humor. Dick was a man of high integrity and treated everyone he encountered with dignity and respect. He was extremely charitable, a true man of faith, and a fierce patriot.
Dick will be dearly missed and is survived by his treasured wife of 53 years, Patricia (Lee) Proctor and his three children: Lt. Rick Proctor, Budd Lake, NJ; Susan Angerman (Ed), Northampton, PA; and Tracy Fischetti (Steve), Southampton, NJ. He is also survived by two siblings: Robert of Chester, MD, and Jane Fleming of Newport, RI. In addition, he was the adored grandfather of eight ‘exceptional’ grandchildren: Rebecca, Ricky, and Brooke Proctor; Jared and Zachary Angerman; and Dominic, Bella, and Giovanni Fischetti.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Fisher House Foundation, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Hospice of NJ, or Alzheimer’s NJ. Due to the recent COVID-19 quarantine, memorial arrangements will be made at a later date.
