“We’re only here for a cup of coffee.”
A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, family man, outdoorsman, fisherman, and friend — whose love, kindness, strength, and memories will live on forever.
Chapter 01
The Story
Archive
Photos & Video
Tributes
Candles Lit
Legacy
Four Generations
A Tribute
Forever our Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa
About Richard
Richard lived for the people he loved. He was happiest surrounded by family — telling stories at the kitchen table, casting a line at sunrise, or watching his grandchildren run through the yard.
He was the kind of man who fixed what was broken, showed up when it mattered, and made room at the table for anyone who needed it. Quiet strength. Quick laughter. A hand always ready to help.
He treasured the simple things — a still lake at dawn, a fire on a cool evening, the sound of the ones he loved sitting close by. He built a life full of moments worth remembering.
“Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day.”
A Life of Giving
Every Easter, every Christmas, every chance he got — Richard showed up for children and families who needed a little more joy. No cameras, no credit. Just love, no matter the cost.
Now Singing in Heaven
Christopher holding his little brother Jason — two blond boys, one crooked grin, the beginning of a wonderful world.
Louis Armstrong · Richard’s Song
“I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself…
what a wonderful world.”
Somewhere up above, Richard is smiling down — still singing the song that says it all.
November 3, 1993 · The Surprise of a Lifetime
Organized in secret by the love of his life, Yvonne Bladis. Every friend, every brother, every cousin — waiting in the dark, gifts stacked high, “Happy Birthday Richie” strung across the ceiling. Louis Armstrong on the speakers. Richard walked in, and for one perfect night — he was in a wonderful world.
From Yvonne, with all her love
“I wanted to give you a night you’d never forget.
And you never did.”
A Family Legend
Hand-drawn by Michael Melillo in ’93 for Richard’s 40th — the caricature that hung proudly next to his prized cigar humidor, right where every guest would see it and laugh.
The Story
Gold chains, a Mercedes medallion, the pinky ring, cash under his boots — the artist captured every Richie flourish and turned it into art. He loved every inch of it.
Where It Hung
Right beside the cigar humidor — the two things Richard walked past every day and grinned at. A signature of the life he built.
— Michael Melillo © ’93
Shining Like a Star
Somewhere in the Bahamas, on a cruise with the people he loved — the reels lined up, the room lit up, and Richard threw a thumbs up for the ages.
Super Bar · Bahamas Cruise
That grin says everything — Richard didn’t just win, he beamed. Ring on his hand, gold bracelet on his wrist, cold drink on the machine. Pure Bladis luck.
Why We Remember It
Because Richard was the kind of guy who could turn a slot machine into a family story — and this one shines as bright as any star in the sky.
This Day in Dad's Life · Chapter 03
A living archive tied to the calendar. Pick any date — a birthday, an anniversary, a random Tuesday — and see the memories that belong to it.
Viewing
August 27
The Poconos hideaway was where Richard was in all his joy — surrounded by the family and lifelong friends he cherished and would do anything for. Kids on the deck, dogs on the trail, boats at the dock, laughter everywhere.
Richard built the family's Poconos hideaway from the ground up in 1986 — cedar walls, tall windows, and a porch that would hear fifty thousand stories.
The ones that didn't get away — a lifetime of trophy days on the water, from Canadian lakes to the open bay.
The family can attach stories, photos, and videos to any date so they surface on that day, year after year.
His Story
From early days to a lifetime of love — the moments that shaped Richard's story.
1953
Richard is born — the start of a life full of love, laughter, and quiet adventure.
1970s
He meets the love of his life, and together they begin building a home.
1980s
Their family grows — and with it, a lifetime of Sunday dinners, road trips, and traditions.
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A devoted father who taught with patience, humor, and unshakable love.
•
Every visit felt like a holiday. Every hug was a promise kept.
•
Four generations of love — a legacy written in laughter.
Career
He believed in showing up, doing it right, and taking care of the people who counted on him.
Summers
From quiet lakes to open water — anywhere with a rod, a coffee, and family nearby.
Canada
Long drives, deep lakes, big fish, and the kind of friendships only the wilderness makes.
The Hideout
The Poconos gave him mountains, community, and endless golden evenings.
Retirement
Time for what mattered most — family, the outdoors, and slow, beautiful days.
His Final Chapter
He faced it the way he faced everything — with strength, grace, and love for his family.
2026
Richard leaves behind more love than can ever be measured.
More stories and dates will be added here as the family gathers memories.
In Loving Memory
Published by Higgins & Bonner Funeral Home. Read the full remembrance below or open it in a new window.
Read Full ObituaryIf the obituary doesn't display, open it in a new window.
What Richard Loved
The people, places, and moments that made him happiest.
Fishing
Canada Fishing Trips
The Hideout in the Poconos
Vacations
Nature
Campfires
Boating
Family Gatherings
Christmas
Thanksgiving
Grandchildren
Great-Grandchildren
Cigars
Collecting Knives
Watching Movies
Relaxing with Family
Helping Others
Spending Time Outside
Quiet Evenings
“Family was always Richard's greatest catch.”
Photo Gallery
A growing collection of family photographs and treasured memories.
This gallery supports thousands of images with lazy loading.
Ontario, Canada · Every Summer
The trip he geared up for a month in advance every year. Long drives north with his best friend "Bible Bob," pre-dawn coffee, glassy lakes, and the friends he'd meet along the journey. There was nothing Richard loved more than casting a line as the sun came up over Ontario.
Golden hour on the lake — Richard and his best friend Bob with a trophy bass
Video Memories
A place for home videos, tributes, and family memories. Videos can be added from YouTube or uploaded directly, and new memories can always be added.
Home video · placeholder
Home video · placeholder
Memory Wall
Every story adds another light. Your memories help keep Richard's spirit alive for generations.
The wall is waiting for your words.
Share the first memory — a story, a moment, a laugh you remember.
A Living Tribute · Chapter 04
Every candle is a message. Every message is a memory. Leave a few words for the family — they will read every one.
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Voice Memories
Record up to a minute — a story, a laugh, a "hello." His people will hear your voice for years to come.
Tap to record
Up to 60s · we'll keep every voice
No voice memories yet. Be the first to speak for Richard.
The Register
Add your name to Richard's register. A word, a wave, a memory — every signature keeps his story alive.
Be the first to sign Richard's guestbook.
Around the World · Chapter 06
Every candle placed on this page becomes a point of light on the map — a reminder of how many places Richard touched, and how far his memory reaches.
The map awaits its first light.
Location data is anonymous and approximate. Pins appear as tributes come in from around the world.
His Legacy
The values Richard lived by — and passed on to every life he touched.
“Every cast, every campfire, every laugh became a memory we'll treasure forever.”
June 24, 1978
The day Yvonne Lamorgese became Yvonne Bladis — and the beginning of the family that would fill the rest of his life. A summer afternoon, sunlight through the trees, and a promise that outlasted everything.
“I do.”
Swipe →
“I only have eyes for you.” — the song they danced to, and the way he looked at her for the next 48 years.
Faith & Family
The Bladis family's home parish in New Jersey — a place of prayer, community, and quiet grace. Richard and Yvonne generously donated the marble statue of Our Lady that stands at the entrance, a lasting gift in honor of Rev. Gerard J. McGarry, the parish's founding pastor.
The statue we donated
"In Honor of Rev. Gerard J. McGarry — Founding Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish"
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
The parish where the Bladis family worshipped for generations.
"May her folded hands and gentle gaze remind every visitor that love, faith, and family outlast us all."
A Holiday Tradition
Richard's spirit was always fullest at Christmas. Every year he transformed the family home into a light show that lit up the winter sky — thousands of bulbs, reindeer on the lawn, wreaths in every window. Families drove in from all over the state just to sit in front of the house with their kids and watch it glow.
“If it's worth doing, light it up.”
The house that lit up the neighborhood
A Bladis Family Tradition
Every year the tent went up in the yard, the steamer pots came out, and the whole family came home. Lobsters, clams, corn, cigars, cold drinks, and laughter that spilled into the night — Richie and Yvonne’s bake was more than a meal, it was the reunion that held the family together.
Watch The Bake
Home videos from the tent, the pit, and the party — coming soon.
Highlight Reel
The best moments — cigars, lobsters, laughter
Coming Soon
Full-Length Bake
The whole night, start to finish
Coming Soon
Family Toasts
Speeches, songs, and stories from Richie & Yvonne
Coming Soon
“Once a year, the whole family came home — and Richie made sure the pot was always full.”
The Kids’ Favorite Time of Year
Every Christmas the whole family gathered at Gloria and Bob Bladis’s house — stockings on the mantel, Santa climbing the ladder, poinsettias in every corner, and Grandma’s pies cooling on the counter. Richard was always the jolliest one in the room, cigar in hand, laugh filling the house. For Chris and Jason, this was the magic of childhood.
“Grandma’s house at Christmas — where the tree was always bright, the table was always set, and Richard was always jolly.”
Family
The rings of a life — the people he loved most, and the generations still to come.
Richard Bladis
1953 — 2026
Children
Grandchildren
Great-Grandchildren
Four generations of Bladis — a legacy written in laughter.
Where He Came From
Robert & Gloria · Wedding Day
Gloria & Robert · Still In Love
Myrtle Beach · Their Getaway
Robert & Gloria Bladis
Every good man begins with the people who loved him first. Richard's mother Gloria and his father Robert gave him the warmth, the work ethic, and the quiet steadiness he carried the rest of his life.
The roots that everything else grew from.
Later years found them soaking up sunshine at their Myrtle Beach vacation home — a cold drink, easy company, and the kind of contentment that only comes after a life well built.
Gloria & Bob · On Vacation
Young, in love, and always chasing the sun.
Bob Bladis
“The mind of a genius at work — quiet, sharp, and always a step ahead.”
Bob had that rare stillness of a man who thought before he spoke. Papers on the desk, a drink at his side, the wheels turning behind steady eyes. He built a life the way he solved problems — carefully, patiently, and with a wisdom Richard carried forward every day.
Where Richard learned to think, to work, and to lead.
The Trip Of A Lifetime
Glaciers on the horizon, family at their side. Bob and Gloria took the great Alaskan cruise together — snow-capped peaks, cold blue water, and the kind of quiet awe that stays with you forever.
"The last great frontier — seen together."
Wonders Of The World
Camels at rest, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid rising behind them. A family that traveled the world together — standing where pharaohs stood, five thousand years of history at their backs.
"We're only here for a cup of coffee — so drink deep, and see the world."
Beloved & Never Forgotten
Mark Bladis · Donna Rosenski · Richard Bladis
Three heads together, one photograph, a whole childhood. Richard’s beloved brother Mark Bladis and his cherished Donna Rosenski went ahead of him — but they were never far. He spoke of them often, laughed at the stories, and carried them with him every day of his life.
Gone from the room, never from the heart.
Richard's Brother
"We're all together in Heaven — fishing, enjoying our lives, keeping an eye on our loved ones."
Brothers, reunited. Forever.
Map of Memories
The Hideout
Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania
The Hideout in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania wasn't just a place Richard visited — it was his sanctuary. Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, it was where he found peace on the lake, enjoyed family vacations, cast countless fishing lines, shared cigars on the deck, and made memories that will live on forever. Days were spent fishing, shooting BB guns, catching frogs and snakes, and racing across the water on the Wave Runner, the speed boats, and of course his prize Bass Boat. It was a place filled with the people he loved — Bob D'Alia, Bible Bob, Donna & Frankie Derosa, Harry & Leone Denny, Manny & Beth Aranjo, Janet & Al Blasi, Joe & Debbie Mondeli, cousins Mike and Nicole and their mother Renee, and his beloved, never-forgotten Bob Arnold. A place where life slowed down, laughter came easy, and family always came first.
Canadian Wilderness
Ontario, Canada
Every year, Richard eagerly looked forward to his annual fishing trip to the pristine lakes of Ontario, Canada. It wasn't just a vacation — it was a tradition that meant the world to him. Months before the trip, he would excitedly prepare his gear, talk about the adventure ahead, and count down the days. Alongside his lifelong friends — especially his best friend, "Bible Bob" — Richard embraced the peaceful wilderness, the crisp northern air, and the quiet mornings as the sun rose over the water. There was nothing he loved more than heading out before dawn, casting a line, sharing stories in the boat, and spending time with friends who had become family.
Home with his Sons
Mountainside, New Jersey
Home with his two sons Jason and Christopher — not only sons, but his best friends. Priceless moments were shared in the grand kitchen, watching movies and the games, where the door was always open and the coffee was always on. A proud collector of knives and fishing gear, Richard cooked some of the most amazing meals of his sons' lives right there, trading theories, talking politics, and dreaming out loud about the day they'd make it down to Florida. Jason would help him place countless online orders for lures and reels and lug the big boxes and cases upstairs as he prepared for the next adventure — Canada, or the Honey Holes with his local fishing buddy Dino.
Around the Globe
Cruise Ships & Far-Off Shores
Richard loved to see the world. He sailed the seas on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, soaked up the sun in Jamaica, and traveled to Cuba — where he visited the very places the cigars he loved were rolled by hand. He rode camels across distant landscapes and was even invited by indigenous tribes to live among them for a time, basking in the sun and sharing in their way of life. Wherever he went, Richard cared more about the people around him than himself. If you needed the shirt off his back, you got it — and money was never the point, as long as everyone he loved was having the adventure of a lifetime.
“A life beautifully lived. A love beautifully remembered.”
With Gratitude
Donations made in Richard's memory may help with funeral, medical, and estate expenses, preserving his memories, and supporting the family he loved so deeply. Every gift — no matter the size — is deeply appreciated.
Where your gift goes
In Richard's memory, a portion of every gift is directed to the latest cancer research and technology — so his fight can help spare another family.
With Gratitude
Any contribution — large or small — helps the Bladis family honor Richard's memory and carry his kindness forward. 100% goes to the family.
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Contact
For memorial arrangements, questions, or to share something private with the family.
