Richard Recht

Former Member Of Newtown Legislative Council

Richard Recht, 71, died May 28 surrounded by his wife and children. The husband of Carol Diem Recht, he had lived in Newtown for 29 years.

Mr Recht was born in Hackensack, N.J., on April 25, 1935. He was the son of Hans and Sophie Hojer Recht.

In addition to his wife of 45 years, he is survived by his daughter, Hilary Kay Recht Martin and her husband, Stephen Hawley Martin, of Richmond Va.; sons Dr Brian Richard Recht of Monterey, Calif., and Christopher Ernest Recht of Acton, Mass.; and three grandchildren, Hawley Richard, Hannah Grace Recht, and Hans Stadelman Martin of Richmond.

Mr Recht grew up in Westwood, N.J., where he attended public school. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck with a bachelor of science degree in industrial management and received his master of business administration from the City University of New York, Bernard M. Baruch School of Business and Public Administration.

After graduation he worked in sales and then human resources for American Can Company and the James River Corporation. Before his retirement in 2000, he was human resources manager for Eaton Corporation/Consolidated Controls in Bethel. While with Eaton, he received The James R. Stover Award for Community Service, which was primarily connected to his role as 1997 campaign chairman of the United Way of Northern Fairfield County.

He was also proprietor of Longview Tree Farm on Tunnel Road and a member of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, where he served as treasurer and education chairman. He served on the Judicial Review Council of the State of Connecticut for five years. In 2003 he was elected to the Newtown Legislative Council, where he served until 2005. He was also a member of the Newtown Republican Town Committee. He was a member of Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel.

An avid sailor, he was a member of the Housatonic Boat Club in Stratford, where his boat, Skimmer, is moored.

Burial was at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, N.J., June 1. A Celebration Service was scheduled for Thursday, June 1, at 7 pm, at Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road, Bethel.

Contributions may be made to the Bethel Visiting Nurse Association, 1 School Street, Bethel CT 06801.

The Newtown Bee        June 2, 2006