Richard E. Krupke

Newport, RI - Richard E. Krupke, 73, of 34 Prairie Avenue, Newport, RI, died Saturday, February 16, 2008 at Village House Nursing Home, Newport, RI. He was the husband of Andrea Keefe Krupke of Newport and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September, 2007.Born in Springfield, MA on June 6, 1935, he was the son of the late Emil O. and Elizabeth Callahan Krupke.Mr. Krupke graduated from Babson University, Wellesley, MA with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1956. He attended Officer Candidate School in Newport and was commissioned an Ensign, U.S. Navy, later that year. After his naval service, Mr. Krupke became a Certified Public Accountant. In 1982, he attended the Executive Course at the Amos Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College.Dick began his career in finance with the firm Ernst and Young in Hartford, CT as an auditor, manager and tax consultant. He also served as: general auditor for the Connecticut Bank and Trust Co. of Hartford; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Heritage Savings and Loan in Manchester, CT; Vice President and Auditor for N.E. Savings Bank in New London, CT; and as State Auditor in the Lottery Commission for the State of Connecticut.Dick and Andrea relocated to Newport at the time of his retirement in 1997. A devout Catholic, Dick began a course of study at Providence College to attain his goal of being ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church. His illness forced him to abandon this plan, but he was able to train and volunteer in the Hospice Program on Aquidneck Island.Retirement also provided the time for him to hike with his sons in the mountains of New England, enjoy Newports Beaches and to bike the Ocean Drive.A loving husband, he was also devoted to his children and their families: Jeffrey and Kelly Krupke and their girls, Jennifer, Laura and Marcella of Buckley, VA; John and Aurora Krupke and their children Kaila and Gregory of Colchester, CT; James and Patricia Krupke and their son Patrick of Middletown, CT; Jill Krupke and her companion Paul Turner of Colchester, CT. He also leaves a brother Dr. William Krupke of Pleasanton, CA and a sister Elizabeth Spradley of Torrance, CA.Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 8:00am from the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00am in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown, RI.Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 from 2 - 5 pm in the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI. Memorial donations may be made to St. Lucys Church Building Fund, 909 West Main Road, Middletown, RI, 02842 or to Alzeimers Association, RI Chapter, 245 Waterman Street, Providence, RI, 02906.