Obituary of Richard M. Lebowich

Richard M. Lebowich, 74, died Sunday evening, January 23, 2011 at Saratoga Hospital after collapsing at home with his wife at his side. This followed an extended illness. He was born in Saratoga Hospital on May 18, 1936, the son of the late Dr. Joseph M. and Gertrude (Schwartz) Lebowich. He was also predeceased by his brother, Samuel J. Lebowich (August 1997) and his sister, Dr. Judith Ann L. Howland (October 1998). Dick graduated from Boston University in 1958. He was honorably discharged from the US Army Reserves following six years of service. On June 30, 1962, Richard and Sally Oppenheim were married in Forest Hills, NY. She survives him. His current German shephard, Queen Greta, also survives him. For more than 35 years, he worked in the insurance industry doing building value appraisals for insurance purposes and insurance adjustments for all types of losses, including marine and fire, under the General Adjuster’s license. For the past 14 years, Dick was Chairman of The Salvation Army Kettle Drive for the Greenwich area. He also chaired the Red Cross Blood Drive held at Ashlar Lodge for several years. He was a member of the Greenwich Lions Club and of the Green Mountain Antique Car Club. Other interests include old Lionel and American Flyer trains, boating on Great Sacandaga Lake for the past decade, after 30 years on Cossayuna Lake. For several summers, Dick and Sally delivered Meals-on-Wheels for the Town of Day, Sacandaga Lake. He held a private pilot’s license, but had lost his medical clearance. Dick became a Mason on April 3, 1961 in Rising Sun Lodge #103 F&AM in Saratoga Springs, NY and was Master there for the 2006-07 year. While residing in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, he was a member of Collabergh Lodge #859 F&AM. Among the many Fraternal services he performed, was running classes of instruction for incoming Masons for several lodges. In November 1985, he was made an honorary member of Fraternity-Dunderberg Lodge #942. In April 1988, Collabergh Lodge selected him to receive an award from Area Five Scottish Rite Bodies for”...outstanding service and devotion to his Lodge, the Craft, and the Masonic Fraternity”. In December 1988, Dick received a Service Award plaque from Collabergh Lodge, and in January 1990 they honored him with the Grand Lodge Dedicated Service Award. After moving to Greenwich in 1992, Dick joined Ashlar Lodge and was Master for the 1994-95 year. In May 1995, Dick was appointed by Grand Lodge to serve as Assistant Grand Lecturer in Washington District, and in 1998-2000, he served as District Deputy Grand Master of Washington District. In October 1992, he became a 32 degree Mason in the Albany Consistory of the Scottish Rite and later was Sovereign Prince for the Council Princes of Jerusalem for the Troy Delta Bodies. On October 31, 1992, Dick joined Oriental Shrine #7. He served as Transportation Chairman from 1995-2008. Dick was Potentate of Oriental Shrine in 2005. He also took the Hillbilly Degree, held offices in several local Shrine Clubs, and with Sally, worked the Shrine Bingo in Schenectady for more than a decade. At the time of his death, Dick was also a member of Red Mountain Lodge #63 F&AM in Arlington, VT. There will be a Masonic Service at Ashlar Lodge 2543, Route 40, Greenwich on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 6pm. Following the Masonic service, there will be a chance for remembrances. Per Dick’s request, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.