Richard Dawson

CHESHIRE - Richard Stuart Dawson died peacefully at his home in Cheshire on Monday, September 27, 2010. A devoted father who was beloved by his family and friends in the community, he was the husband of Patricia Cullinan Dawson for thirty seven years.

Mr. Dawson was born on January 31, 1943 in Bristol, Connecticut, the sixth child of the late Sherwood Louis and Elinor Wheeler Dawson. He attended Southington High School, the University of Maryland, and was a graduate of the School of Banking at Williams College. From 1960 to 1968 he served in the United States Air Force Security Service and the National Security Agency, having obtained a top secret cryptographic security clearance. A Staff Sergeant, Mr. Dawson served overseas for seven years at Peshawar, Pakistan, Bremerhaven, Germany, Osan, Korea, Kirknewton, Scotland, Chicksands, England, Korat, Thailand and Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. He was the recipient of numerous military awards and honors, including the Air Force Commendation medal for outstanding service in the Vietnam War, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and oak leaf cluster for valor in Vietnam Service, the Air Force Small Arms Marksmanship ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Ribbon, the Air Force Good Conduct Ribbon, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity ribbon with oak leaf cluster, the Vietnam Service medal with two battle stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam campaign medal, the Korean Defense Service Ribbon and the Connecticut War Veterans service medal.

Upon his return from military service in 1968, Mr. Dawson was employed at Household Finance Corporation where he completed its one year management training program. He then began a forty year banking career in the installment loan department of Waterbury National Bank, and was employed by its successor banks, including Citytrust. Mr. Dawson was manager of the installment loan department at Citytrust, the branch manager for many of the local Citytrust branch offices, including its flagship office on Grand Street in Waterbury, and later became a Vice President. Throughout his banking career, he was an adviser to Junior Achievement of Waterbury. In 1986, he became Senior Vice President of the commercial loan department at American National Bank in Meriden. He spent the last 20 years of his career working in commercial lending advocating for small businesses and small business loans at six different community banks, retiring from Naugatuck Savings Bank in 2008.

A thirty-five year resident of Cheshire, Mr. Dawson was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8075 and The Freedom Through Vigilance Association. He was a thirty-five year member of Temple Lodge #16 A.F.A.M, a former member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Cheshire, a Cheshire Youth Baseball little league coach, Cheshire Youth Soccer Club coach, and former President of the Cheshire High School Ice Hockey Association. He was also a former two year chairman of the Cheshire Cancer Society.

Besides his wife of 37 years, Mr. Dawson leaves his children Peter Stuart Dawson, Esq. of Tarrytown, New York, Kathryn Elizabeth Dawson of Fairfield, and Robin Lynn Dawson of Middletown, as well as Oliver, his faithful Labrador Retriever. Mr. Dawson is survived by his brothers Sherwood Louis Dawson Jr. of Cheshire, David James Dawson of Jupiter, Florida, Jeffrey Stone Dawson of Watertown, and sisters Barbara Dawson Burkhardt of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and Linda Dawson Nace of Tucson, Arizona. He was predeceased by sisters, Elizabeth Ann Dawson, Nancy Dawson Hamilton and Donna Dawson Grillo; and a brother, Charles Stone Dawson.

Arrangements - Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Plantsville Congregational Church, 109 Church St., Plantsville, 06479. Burial with military honors will follow in the Dawson family Plot at Pine Hill Cemetery, Southbury. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main Street with a Masonic service being held at 6:45 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Cntr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or Cystic Fibrosis, 185 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT 06109 or Prospect VFW, Post 8075, 218 Cheshire Rd., Prospect, CT 06712.