Rear Admiral Richard J Grich, USN (Ret) passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 9, 2022.  He was born in Bridgeport CT, the only child of John and Helen Grich.  He became the first person in his family to attend college, graduating from Catholic University in 1950.  After working in the New York City area while getting his Master’s Degree from Columbia University, he joined the US Navy in 1953, starting a career which would last for more than 34 years.

Richard’s career in the Navy primarily centered on ship building and ship repair as he was designated an Engineering Duty Officer early in his career.  Other significant accomplishments during his career included working on the massive repairs to the USS Forrestal, after a horrific explosion and fire in 1967, serving as the US Naval Attaché to Vietnam from 1973 to 1974,  overseeing all aspects of the construction of the Navy’s two newest nuclear power aircraft carriers – USS Nimitz and USS Eisenhower – from 1974 to 1980 as the Senior Project Manager, coordinating the construction of new Navy ships as the Supervisor of Ship Building at the Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, MS and his final duties as Deputy Commander of the Naval Electronics Command in Washington DC.  He retired as a Rear Admiral in 1987.

After retiring from the Navy, Richard enjoyed traveling to visit his eight grandchildren who lived throughout the country.  He especially enjoyed the annual Grichfest family reunions which took place every summer for 17 years at the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Richard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary McMahon Grich, his children Pam Grich (Lou Fink), Richard Grich Jr, Robert Grich (Diane Turley Grich)and Thomas Grich (Susan Derr Grich), grandchildren Allison Fink, Kae Fink (Reid Pletcher), Rachel Johnston (Zac), Jennifer Grich, Stephen Grich (Brittany), Natalie Shires (Jeremy), Katherine Grich and Elizabeth Grich and great grandson, Brody Grich.

Funeral Mass
September 19, 2022

10:30 AM
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
5121 Woodland Way, Annandale, VA 22003

Burial
3 PM
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Kibera Hamlets USA (www.kiberahamletsusa.org) or the Bedford Falls Employee Fund (Checks to 5 Corporate Dr., Bedford, NH 03110 attention Katelyn Tilbe).