Obituary of Richard Imhoff

Richard (“Dick”) Joseph Imhoff passed away peacefully at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, North Carolina on September 25, 2023 at the age of 88 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Richard, the eldest of five children, was born on June 4, 1935, in Utica, New York to Walter Imhoff and Evelyn Cahow. Richard attended grade school at the St. Joseph Parochial School in Utica New York and graduated from Whitesboro High School in 1953. After briefly working at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, Richard was drafted into the US Army on January 10, 1955, and served honorably until his discharge on February 24, 1957.

Upon discharge from the Army, Richard resumed his career working for the Government as a computer programmer at Griffiss AFB. He married Anne Marie Pryor on November 28, 1959, at Saint Mary’s Church in Clinton, New York, and they would be blessed with 43 years of marriage. Richard’s career with the Government would take him far and wide with tours at Nouasseur Air Base in Moracco (1961-1962), Bremerhaven, Germany (1962-1969), Oakland, California (1969-1977) and Syracuse, New York (1977-1990). Richard lost Anne when she passed on September 14, 2002. Richard was fortunate to find love a second time when he met Vincenza (“Vinci”) La Bella and they were married on July 9, 2005.

Richard enjoyed golfing his whole life, from his early days as a caddy at the Sadaquada Golf Course in Whitesboro, to teaching golf in Verona, New York after his retirement in 1990. Richard was very active in the Catholic Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, served as a lector, was involved with Marriage Encounter, and sang in the choir. Richard was a kind and gentle man who greatly enjoyed the company of others, and especially the time he was able to spend with his many grandchildren. Richard enjoyed travelling and, aside from the many places his job took him, he also travelled to Ireland, Italy, Germany, Israel, and Belgium.

Richard is predeceased by his first wife of 43 years, Anne Marie Pryor, his granddaughter Naomi Lynn Imhoff, his grandson Daniel Mathew Imhoff, his sister Lorraine Bullen, his brother-in-law Joseph Daniel Pryor, and his parents, Walter Imhoff and Evelyn Cahow.

Richard is survived by his wife Vincenza (“Vinci”), his four children Michael (Lynne) of Bellbrook, Ohio; James (Roxanne) of Clayton, North Carolina; Deborah (Chris) of Northborough, Massachusetts; and Daniel (Lynn) of Barto, Pennsylvania, his stepchildren Cheryl Allegro and Mathew Bazar, 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren along with his siblings, Barbara (Paul Mueller), Walter (Kay Weyker) and June (William Kener).

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at Village Park Milton in Alpharetta, Georgia, Gabriel Manor Assisted Living Center in Clayton, North Carolina, and to the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, North Carolina for their compassionate care of Richard and for their support of the family. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Anne M. Pryor Memorial scholarship in care of the VVS Foundation (vvsfoundation.com) or to the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Visitation will take place on October 4th, 2023 from 10A to 11A, a Mass of Christian burial will follow immediately after visitation at St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Utica, New York. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Clinton, New York.