Obituary of Richard Bernard Close

Dr. Richard Bernard Close, age 87 of Glen Mills, PA passed away peacefully on November 30, 2019 at Rose Court at Maris Grove. Dr. Close was born to Bernard R. and Suzanne C. Kennedy Close in Pittsburgh, PA. He has resided the past 10 years at the Maris Grove community in Glen Mills, PA, previously residing in Macungie, Waynesburg, and Pittsburgh, PA. He served in the Air Force for 9 years stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts and in Wiesbaden, Germany. Dr. Richard Close received his PhD from the University of Massachusetts. A respected professor, he was a Political Science Professor at Kutztown University for 25 years. Devoted to his Catholic faith, Richard was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Over the years, he served in many ways including as a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Allentown, and as a Catholic Chaplain at the Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was an avid reader who believed enough books could not be written. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling with his wife and family. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Ann Close, who passed in 1969. Dr. Richard Bernard Close is survived by his wife of 63 years; Beatrice H. Augustine Close, son; Timothy M. Close (Peggy) and daughter; Laurie Close Cole (Timothy), 5 grandchildren; Conor Close, Haley Close, Ethan Cole (Abby), Rebecca Cole and Michaela Cole, Great Grandchildren; Caleb, Cody & Bradley Cole. A visitation will be held on Tuesday 6:30-8:00PM at Pagano Funeral Home 3711 Foulk Rd., Garnet Valley, PA and also on Wednesday at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (New Church) from 9:30-10:15AM, 430 Valleybrook Rd., Glen Mills, PA. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30AM. Interment will be held on Thursday, 11:00AM at the Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA. Donations in his memory may be made to Penn Medicine Development, Attn. Penn Memory Center, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Phila., PA 19104.