Richard Tamburin died at home in Goshen, N.Y., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.
Son of Luciano and Josephina Tamburin, he was born in Parenzo, Italy, during the turmoil of the end of World War II. He and his mother fled to a refugee camp in Bari, Italy, during the Istrian Italian Exodus, when the Italians were forced out by Communist forces of what later became Croatia. Richie's mother was born in the USA but had returned to Italy with her family when she was two. His mother went back to the USA when Richie was nine and, one year after his mother, Richie left Italy with his father and joined his mother to live in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Richie became an American citizen and joined the Navy during the Vietnam war, where he served on a small boat that brought supplies to the Marines at their jungle bases.
On leave from Vietnam, he married the love of his life, Sabina Bogdanowicz in 1967 and they moved to Goshen in 1973. They had four loving and greatly loved children who he worked very hard for. He commuted two hours each way to Queens, N.Y., for his job at Verizon for more than 30 years. In the last of his working years he was transferred to Rockland County, where he had many co-worker friends.
He enjoyed camping in the great outdoors with his family, especially with his greatly loved and loving granddaughter Devlyn. His last great camping trip was with his adored great granddaughter Ariana Hall and great grandson Matthew.
He leaves behind his children, Annmarie of Johnstown, N.Y., David and his wife Maya of Middletown, N.Y., Andrew and his partner, Mindy, of Manitou Springs, Cloo., Sabrina and her husband, Michael, of Manitou Springs; and his grandsons, George Hall and partner, Breanne Ahrens, of Gloversville, N.Y., and Chris Hall of Gloversville; granddaughter, Devlyn Golembesky of Manitou Springs, Colo.; and great-grandchildren Ariana and Matthew Hall of Gloversville.
He will be forever in our hearts. He was a true animal lover, loving pets and wildlife alike, caring and empathetic to all God's creatures. His faithful dog Gunner is lost without him.
A special thanks goes to all the family, friends and neighbors who were so wonderfully supportive in so many ways, especially Mindy Kane, who drove here to Goshen from Colorado to join his son Andrew and wife, Sabina, in nursing Richie; and to his children and grandchildren, who spent so many hours making sure he was comfortable and surrounded by those he loved during his final days.
Funeral arrangements are by Donovan Funeral Home in Goshen.