At age 14 Dick’s family moved back to New York State, settling in Rochester, New York. Dick attended McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester. During his teenage years Dick began pursuing a lifelong hobby of ham radio. Dick’s father was a ham, and Dick began working with electronics and passed his ham radio license exam when he was a teenager. Dick’s call sign was WA2IKC. He continued to pursue ham radio as a hobby, which he pursued with vigor. He later studied for and passed his extra class ham radio exam. During his early adulthood he enrolled in the Air Force and was later given an honorable discharge.
Dick graduated from Monroe Community College, having studied electronics. He then pursued a career in the electronics industry, working for over 30 years at Harris RF Communications in Rochester. He was decorated as an Employee of the Month for his contributions at RF, where he made lifelong friends. He enjoyed fixing and building electronics for his family and friends. Dick also attended many ham fests over the years around New York State, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. While working at Harris, Dick traveled for work, which included travel to Bolivia, Saudi Arabia as well as to New Mexico. Dick enjoyed New Mexico immensely, and later took his two daughters there as adults.
Dick married Pam (Niver) in 1974, and they later had two daughters; Lisa (Kreutter) Acuna, and Kelly Kreutter. Lisa resides in Winter Park, Florida with her husband Hugo, and Kelly resides in Oakland, California, with her husband Auryn McCafferty along with their daughter Oona and son Alillil. Dick is pre-deceased by his parents Henry and Clara Kreutter. He is survived by his wife Pamela, his daughters Lisa and Kelly, two grandchildren, an older sister, Joan Jarzomski, of Port Charlotte, Florida, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He leaves behind two lifelong friends John Stevens and Jim Hastings.
Dick lived a life of devotion to his career, ham radio, and his family. His wife Pam continues to reside in the Rochester, New York area.
Dick will be buried alongside his parents Henry and Clara at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Strykersville, New York.
Dick was a devoted animal lover who enjoyed his pet cats, and memorials in his honor may be sent to the Humane Society (Lollypop Farms) in Perinton, New York.
A celebration of Dick’s life will be held at Calvary Chapel of Rochester sometime during the month of June 2020; details will be made available at a later date. . For more information please call (585) 343-8260 or to leave an online condolence visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia, New York 14020.
