Obituary of Richard E. Myrick
Hamlin-Richard Elliot Myrick passed away on Saturday, April 13 at the age of 91. He was predeceased by his parents, Raymond and Thelma Myrick; brother, Raymond Myrick; sisters, Barbara Myrick, and Connie Davie (Myrick); nephews, David Myrick and Paul Myrick; and his wife, Carolyn Myrick. He is survived by his children, Lucinda (Kevin) Karstedt, James (Deanna Grams) Myrick, Jake (Noriko Kamei) Myrick, Leslie Myrick and son-in-law, Michael Sladden; his step children, Christine Brower, Cheryl (Robert) Donatella, and Charlene (David) Weeks; his 6 grandchildren, Kara Beth (Andrew) Sandoval, Kristopher (Gabriele) Karstedt, Gabriel Myrick, Olivia Myrick, Philip (Melissa) Sladden, and Jack Sladden; his 6 step-grandchildren, Justine (Dakota Lutz) Brower, Jennifer, Jason, & Jessica Donatella, Samantha & Matthew Weeks; and his 5 great-grandchildren, Alex Karstedt, Gray and Jayce Sandoval, Finley and Saylor Sladden; his sister-in-law, Lulu Myrick; his nephew, Paul Myrick’s wife, Marla; and many nieces and nephews.
Richard, the youngest son of Thelma and Raymond Myrick, was born in the early 1930’s at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady NY. A graduate of Lyons High School, Richard served two years in the Army as a Radio Operator during the Korean War. Upon his return, he would start a family and begin his long and successful career in the service bureau industry. A visionary who saw computers becoming common-place in the future, he acted on that vision and 18 years later he started a computer business, Symdat, with his first wife, Cecilia Farrell (Tellier Myrick). In those early years computers were as large as refrigerators, housed in specially designed cool rooms and needed punch cards, the first automated information storage device, to enter the data into a computer. Subsequently, he took his knowledge and love of computers to Suburban Disposal working with them for over 20 yrs until he retired at the young age of 80!
His true passions were the outdoors, boating, camping, and volunteering within his communities. Whether it was at Greece Volunteer Ambulance, where he served for 15 years, or United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron, each having long, recognized and exemplary terms. As a vocal advocate for the importance of incorporating town wide drills and training, which involves all first responders; firefighters, emergency medical services and police, he pushed for the drills and safety training that still continues today.
The Adirondack and Catskills mountains and 1,000 Islands held an important place in his life. Taking his families to the Mountains, often to all 3 locations every summer, Richard was most at home in nature and on the water. He was also involved in the early days of the Boy Scout Camp Massawepie, located on Tupper Lake, as a scout master. If it was summer, he would be in the woods hiking the high peaks, building a campfire and making delicious Oklahoma fried pies, watching his children catch fish with their grandfather, Raymond, in the 1,000 Islands, or on the water paddling a canoe or sailing a sunfish on Raquette Lake.
Richard and Carolyn purchased a former boarding house in Inlet, NY and over the next 20 years, they spent many seasons together and shared their mountain home with friends, children and grandchildren.
His love of the outdoors, camping, boating, first aid, training, teaching and giving back to the community have been passed along to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his families, friends, the first responder and coast guard community and his former bosses.
Visitation hours will be held from 1-3 on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Inc., 735 East Avenue, in Hilton, followed by Richard's Memorial Service with full Military Honors at 3PM. Interment will be held privately at the convenience of his family.
Donations can be made in Richard’s memory to the Craig Goodrich Animal Shelter, 80 Railroad Avenue, Hamlin, NY 14464.
