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04/16/2013 12:00 PMRichard Quandt Bourn, Sr., 95, of Old Saybrook, died on April 11. He was the husband of 56 years to the late Florence Eugena (Parks) Bourn. Richard was born in Hartford on Sept. 28, 1917, son of the late Kenneth and Elizabeth (Quandt) Bourn. While growing up in Hartford, Richard raised pigeons. His interest in flight found him walking to East Hartford to watch aircraft fly at the Pratt & Whitney airfield. He also made model airplanes.
Richard graduated as class president from Hartford Public High School in 1935, and he graduated from Tri-State College in Angoila, Indiana, in 1939 with a degree in engineering. While attending college, Richard met his future wife, Florence Parks, and they married in February of 1940. Upon graduation from college, he became employed as an engineer with Pratt & Whitney of East Hartford, where he worked until his retirement in 1974.
In the early 1940’s, Richard began sailing, which became a life-long passion of his. He taught others how to sail and helped deliver boats up and down the coast, and once to the Virgin Islands via Bermuda.
Richard lived most of his life in Old Saybrook and was a member of The First Church of Christ in Old Saybrook for over 50 years.
He is survived by his daughter Carolyn Armstrong; three sons, Richard Q. Bourn, Jr., Edson Bourn, and Cameron Bourn and his wife Susan; and three grandchildren, who will miss him, Tyler Bourn and his wife Kathryn, Chelsea Bourn, and Matthew Bourn. He was predeceased by his sisters Elizabeth Gourley, Nancy (Pontillo) Koldenborg, and Susan Cooke Abvocino.
A graveside service took place on April 16 at 11 a.m. in Cypress Cemetery, Old Saybrook. The Swan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. www.swanfuneralhomeoldsaybrook.com.