BRANTINGHAM, NY – Richard E. Speirs, 85, died Sunday morning, June 3, 2018.
Richard E. Speirs was born on June 17, 1932, in Syracuse, and was the son of the late Charles and Bertha Zinsmeister Keller Speirs. Richard had an older brother, Donald L., and a younger sister, Dorothy J. Speirs Dupuy. His parents and siblings predeceased him.
Richard graduated from Eastwood High School, attended Syracuse University for one year then joined the NY Air National Guard working full time at Guard Headquarters. He served at Scott AFB for four months and in the Army during the Korean War.
Richard attended the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell earning his BA degree in 1959. He was a member of the Cornell Hotel Society and a brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
His major hotel career was in New York City, learning the real hotel world at four major hotels, ending as VP-GM at the then famous Hotel Taft. He eventually moved to Cape Coral, FL where he lived for over 30 years. At the urging of family members he moved to Brantingham. As time passed most of the family moved away to other places. His cousin Judy Wilson and her husband invited him to join them in their home when he could no longer live independently.
Surviving Richard are his nephews Donn Scott Dupuy and his wife Lisa and her daughter Elizabeth, Jon-Pierre Dupuy, and Mark Christopher Dupuy. Richard is also survived by his maternal cousin Jean Zinsmeister Keller Gage and her four children, plus very special cousins. On his paternal side he is survived by cousin, Adrienne Eddy and her two children. Also surviving are close family friends, Don “Ditto” and Helen Broton and many special cousins.
Interment will be 1 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the family plot in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Minoa with Mr. Rev. David Schiltz, Deacon officiating.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 2, 2018 at 8:30 A.M. at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Houseville with Rev. Jay Seymour, pastor ,officiating.
Online condolences may be made at www.sundquistfh.com.
