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Obituary for David E. Rich
David Edward Rich died July 12, 2019 in Naples, Florida. He was 72 years old. David was born September 7, 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents Richard Rich and Anna Carey. He graduated from Northern Burlington County Regional High School in Columbus, New Jersey, class of 1964. David received his Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Murray State University in Kentucky in 1971 and his Master’s Degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology in1973. In 1999, David earned his PhD in Audiology from Hamilton University in Jackson, Wyoming and was a member of the International Hearing Society (IHS). He was also a drill sergeant in the military reserves for 6 years.
David had a full life, a Blessed Life as he would say! A big movie buff, he also loved sports: track, wrestling, soccer, baseball, and more. He loved to go camping and boating! The ocean, Great Lakes and Boundary Waters were his favorites!
David was an inventor, a creator, a problem solver and an entrepreneur all his life. He was a humanitarian, an advocate for women’s rights and loved people unconditionally. He used his education in the hearing industry to help many thousands of people to hear again. He always said it was a most rewarding and satisfying career.
Above all, David loved his family and the Lord. He and his wife, Linda, always said it was “divine intervention” that brought them together. Back in 1995, David had three children and Linda had three children. They were both loving their kids and their careers in the hearing industry. They quickly became a blended family and David and Linda joked they were almost the Brady Bunch. David and Linda built their own business and worked together for 20 years. This coming May would have been their 25th anniversary. They share and love six wonderful grandchildren. They retired to Marco Island, Florida, bought a condo right on the Gulf of Mexico and then began boating again.
David had courageously battled cancer and a massive heart attack over the last several years. We who have shared his life have been blessed and David will be deeply missed. Heaven received a wonderful spirit the day David died.
David is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years, Linda Anne Sage, his sisters, Diane Macekura and Susan (Ron) Howell, his children, Thad (Jen), Tate (fiancé Jade), Tia (Zac) Gonsior, Sarah (Andrew) Etter, Katherine, and Jenna (Trevor) Meindertsma. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Marley, Averee, Logan, Ben, Madison, and Emmett. David was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved step-mother, Kay Rich.
Friends may visit at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Thursday, July 18th, 4pm-8pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, July 19th, 11am at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, 2700 Waldon Road in Lake Orion. Friends may visit at church beginning at 10am. Burial will follow at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy.
