Obituary: Richard Desmond, Ph.D., 36, of South Windsor

From Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home

Richard Thomas Desmond, Ph.D., 36, of South Windsor, beloved husband of Ashley Lynn Bartelson, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 6, 2015.

Rich was born in Hartford to Anthony (Tony) Desmond and the late Tina (Papalia) Desmond, and grew up in South Windsor. He was a graduate of Salisbury School, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross, was a graduate student at Pennsylvania State University and received his Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut. He worked as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Franklin Pierce University.

Rich enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, teaching his students, watching sports and traveling around the world. For the past seven years, Rich ran in the Falmouth Road Race to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a tribute to his brother and more recently his mother.

Rich is survived by his loving wife Ashley, his father Tony, his sister Allison Desmond Kiene of Bermuda, his nephew Timothy Kiene, his niece Caitlin Kiene, his father- and mother-in-law Alan and Denise Bartelson of Stratford, his sister-in-law Erica Mitchell and her husband Reese of Stratford, his brother-in-law Scott Bartelson of Stratford, many loving uncles and aunts as well as several cousins.

Rich was predeceased by his mother Tina and his brother Robert Anthony Desmond.

Calling hours will be held at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor on Friday, November 13, from 4 to 8 pm.

Family and friends may gather at the funeral home at 9 am on Saturday, November 14, traveling to St. Catherine Church in Broad Brook for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am. Burial will follow at St. Catherine Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rich’s name may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift.

To leave online condolences, visit Carmon Funeral Home here.