Conesus: On Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Richard took his last jet flight up in the blue sky to be with his son Jay. Rick passed peacefully with Barb by his side at their home. He was the last sibling from his parents, the late Peter and Helen Nowakowski of Lackawanna. He and Barb (Schuster) celebrated 67 years with his surviving children: Jeffrey (Janet) Nowakowski of New Orleans, LA; Jo Ann (Walter, Major General Ret.) Golden of Colorado Springs, CO; and John (Diane) Nowakowski of Oklahoma City, OK; 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Also survived by sisters-in-law Rose and Alice Ann Schuster, many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Rick graduated from Lackawanna High School and Erie Community College. He served in the US Army from 1957-1960 and graduated from the Army Language School studying Korean at the Presidio of Monterey in CA. He was also stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland and later worked with the National Security Agency as a cryptologist. After his military service Rick was employed for many years with G.L.F. as a chemist. He was also the Justice of Peace in Conesus for one term and later became the Assessor for the Town of Conesus and the Town of Caledonia, retiring in 1996 with 20 years of service. Rick was very involved with model airplanes and was a member of the Genesee Valley Aero Modelers.
Family and friends may call on Sunday, July 7th, from 2-4pm at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home Inc., 21 Big Tree Street, Rte 15 & 20A, Livonia. Rick’s Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30am on Monday, July 8th, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 6591 Richmond Mills Road, Livonia. Burial to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, with military honors. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Livonia Ambulance, PO Box 8, Livonia, NY 14487, the Conesus Fire Department, PO Box 216, Conesus, NY 14435, or Livingston County Hospice, 2 Murray Hill Drive, Mt. Morris, NY 14510. To send a condolence or share a memory please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com