Richard Gantt Obituary

Richard Gregory Gantt

(Dick)

AGE: 85 • Chadds Ford, PA

Richard Gregory Gantt of Chadds Ford, PA passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, October 15, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. Born March 31, 1930 in Wilmington, DE, Richard was the son of the late Constance and Marshall Gantt. Richard graduated from P.S. DuPont High School in 1948, enlisted in the Navy, and was honorably discharged in 1949 enabling him to enroll in the United States Naval Academy. Richard graduated from the Academy in 1953 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and later earned a Master's Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Richard served his country in the U.S. Navy retiring as a Lt Commander. He was employed at the DuPont Experimental Station as a patent associate for 20 years. During this time, Richard earned a Ph.D. in Marine Studies at the University of Delaware. Richard life's goals, as listed in his high school yearbook, were to enter college, marry a girl that didn't chew gum, have a family and to earn a Ph.Ds. He accomplished them all.

The highlight of Richard's retirement years was spending time with his large family and pursuing his life-long passion of sailing on the open sea. For 12 years Richard and his wife Edythe cruised the East Coast from Newfoundland to North Carolina on their 40-foot yawl Celerity. In 2010 they completed a 17-year sailing adventure, a circumnavigation of the world, visiting 54 countries and territories. Richard was an active member of the Chesapeake Bay Bermuda 40 Association, the Cruising Club of America, the Ocean Cruising Club, and the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake.

Richard is survived by his wife of 35 years, Edythe Sands Nice Gantt, and their combined family: Valerie Cook (Allan), R. Gregory Gantt Jr (Brenda), Kristen Gantt, (H. Richards Applin), Linda Nice Lambert (John), Erin Gantt (James Haburcak), David Nice (Ilene), Stuart Gantt (Sabrina), Duanne Gantt Castellani, and Paul Nice; 17 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; former wife, Janis Caryer-Lermond, of Wilmington, DE; sister, Ann Gantt, of Miami, FL , her two children Sandy Leon (Lovell) and Cindy Leon (Hollis Rutledge); an uncle, Robert Gregory of Port Angeles, Washington and his son Steve Gregory.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church, 101 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE on Wednesday, November 11th at 10:30 AM. A committal service and military honors will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Caron Foundation (P.O Box 150, Wernersville, PA 19565) or the Bonnell Cove Foundation (124 Chestnut Street, Camden, ME, 04843-2227).

For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com