Born and raised in Sayre, Rich only left the area for a few brief periods. His four year stint in the Navy as an aviation electronic technician and radar operator took him to Newfoundland, Iceland, and everywhere in between. While stationed in Newfoundland, he resided in crowded Navy barracks with dozens of other men. But every two weeks he travelled to Iceland for a stay in Air Force barracks, living in luxury with only two men to a room. From Iceland, he was part of a 26 man crew who made 12 hour flights between Greenland and Iceland or Iceland and the Faroe Islands, manning radar along the Defense Early Warning Line.

After leaving the Navy, Rich returned to Sayre and began his career with the Federal Systems Division of IBM.  He spent two years in Angola, Indiana while attending Tri State University for an electronics degree. With IBM selling its Federal Systems Division to Lockheed Martin, Rich continued to work at the same position but with a different employer until retirement.

Rich, with help from his wife, brother and brother-in-law, built his home and out buildings in Sayre from the ground up. Very much enjoying landscaping projects and tending to flowers, shrubs, and trees, he lived there until very recently.

Just this summer, Rich sold his home and moved to Centre County. A widower, Rich is currently living with his son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters in an apartment in their home. They sure are lucky to have such a personable and talented handyman move in!   And Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society is just as lucky to have Rich as a very active member.