Richard N. Roberts

Richard N. Roberts of Chincoteague Island, Virginia, died at the home of his daughter in Newark, Delaware, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family. Richard son of Russell Decampt Roberts and Margaret Lovell Levi was born in Lockport, New York, on September 3, 1930. Richard graduated from Lockport High School in 1946 and then attended Erie County Tech for two years, majoring in chemistry. His education was interrupted for four years when Richard, at age 19, was drafted into the Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1955 as a cryptographer in Okinawa, Japan. After discharge from the military, he then went on to attend University of Buffalo where he graduated with a B.A. in 1957, an M.A. in 1959, and a PhD in biochemistry in 1963. Richard completed a two year Postdoctoral at Rutgers University Agricultural Department and an additional two-year postdoc at Cornell University. After which he took a position at the General Electric Company in Syracuse, New York, where he worked for 25 years as an analytical chemist. Richard married Nancy D. Roloff on September 16, 1961, in Lockport, NY. Daughter Barbara Ann was born after which Richard and Nancy moved to Camillus, NY, in 1965. Eric A. soon joined the family. After retirement from General Electric, Richard worked at SUNY Oswego as a research professor before moving to Chincoteague Island, Virginia, in 1995. Richard became interested in ornithology in 1965. This changed the trajectory of his life. Richard gave countless volunteer hours over a 40-year period as a master bird bander to The Nature Conservancy in Maryland, the Virginia Society of Ornithology, the Ward Museum of Waterfowl, and the Syracuse Audubon Group. Most notably in 1997 he started serving as a volunteer at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge where he gave more than 6,000 hours of service over a 20 period. Richard is survived by his daughter Barbara R. Gallagher [Jay], grandchildren Andrew Gallagher [Veronica Hsu], Ryan Gallagher [Katie], and Carrie Gallagher, son Eric Roberts, grandchildren Joshua Roberts and Stephanie Roberts. A memorial service will be held at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church 109 Gypsy Hill Road, Landenberg, PA, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 11:00, following a 10:00 visitation. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the North American Bluebird Society in Richard Roberts’ name and send to: NABS Treasurer, P.O. Box 7844, Bloomington, IN 47407. For directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.stranofeeley.com

Richard N. Roberts

September 3, 1930 - February 5, 2025

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