This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Richard “Dick” Gedney

Richard “Dick” Gedney passed peacefully at home with family on July 6, 2024. Born in 1931 in Greenwich, he was a longtime businessman and civic volunteer in his adopted hometown of Madison.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife of over 70 years, Patricia. He is also survived by his brother Dennis (Wendy and their family); sons, Richard (Liz) of Madison, Jeffrey (Deborah) of Trumbull, and Curtis (Jeanne) of Clinton; grandchildren, Kate Tommaso (David), Rob, Kendra Johnson (Ben), Ben (Leah), Patrick, and Zach; and great-grandchildren, Celia and Juliette Tommaso.

Born into humble beginnings during the Great Depression, Dick’s childhood revolved around boats and outdoor sports. He excelled in fishing, camping, and archery. He fished for every kind of sport fish all over North America. New England fly-fishing and fishing Long Island Sound were his favorites. He fished Long Island Sound for over 80 years and landed his largest striped bass in those waters at the age of 91. He especially loved fishing with his sons and brother. As a young man, Dick had a passion for diving and spear-fishing around the islands and local jetties in western Long Island Sound.

Dick and Pat were semi-professional ballroom dancers who won many awards and traveled far and wide to compete and mingle with friends. Dick was a true people person, a big factor in the success of his varied careers and business. He stayed curious throughout his life, learning AutoCAD in his 80s, and became a teacher at Paier College of Art & Design, where his passion for mentoring made his kitchen design class popular with students.

In his early teens, he was afflicted with tuberculosis. Having survived two years of difficult treatment in a sanatorium, Dick was imbued with the power of positive thinking and an enjoyment of life that stayed with him throughout his years. His positive attitude was evident to all who met him.

Dick started his early career with CL&P in electrification and also worked as an electrician and carpenter. He was in appliance sales in Greenwich, and he became involved in kitchen design in the 1960s. In the ’70s, Dick left a partnership in Fairfield County and opened Kitchens By Gedney in Madison, where the business continues today. Dick briefly studied aeronautics at UConn, though he had to leave the program due to the demands of a growing family; he enjoyed designing, building, and flying model airplanes throughout his life.

In his 90s, Dick penned two books of short stories entitled, Imagine That and You Never Know. They combined his love of storytelling with his experiences in the natural world and his witty sense of humor.

He was always active in civic and volunteer endeavors. He served as an award-winning scoutmaster in his native town of Greenwich for over 15 years. In Madison, Dick served on numerous committees and volunteer efforts, including ACCA, Trees, Senior Tax Freeze, and the design/build of the Info Kiosk downtown. He was a longtime member and national representative of the National Kitchen & Bath Association and Trout Unlimited.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dick’s name to The Madison Land Conservation Trust and Trout Unlimited.