Deceased May 15, 2016
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In Memory
Randy passed away on May 15, 2016, while playing rugby. It's a shock to all of us, and we send condolences to his wife Cathy and his kids Emma and Scott.
As a native of Ithaca, he seemed impervious to cold and would be out and about in shorts and a rugby shirt even in the dead of winter. He played and coached rugby all his life, so to die on the rugby field seems somehow appropriate—if that's the right word? At least he was doing what he loved.
He had a number of highly classified positions in the aerospace industry as a satellite jockey, putting his physics and mathematics skills to good use. He ran several companies providing ground services to satellites and had the high-level security clearance appropriate to an expert in ballistics, IR signatures for rockets, surveillance, and backing up special ops. He was a rocket scientist.
Randy was a force of nature, always enthusiastic, exuberant and passionate in what he did, whether playing rugby, flying satellites or getting involved in politics. He had just gotten himself selected as an Alternate Delegate for Colorado's 5th district to the Republican National Convention, a nice prize for a longtime activist.
He was my roommate sophomore year at AD, where we studied hard and partied hard late on Thursday nights, and weekends. I remember him as impervious to the cold, venturing out in shorts and a rugby shirt in the middle of an Amherst winter, saying “this is nothing compared to Trumansburg.” His long hair and beard made him seem then like a mountain man from the deep woods, but with a quick laugh and smile.
He really loved his rugby. He played regularly, at a high level, into his late twenties, and continued to play and coach until he died. Rugby is a tough, demanding sport, he would tell me, requiring exceptional fitness and conditioning. And he loved it, with a passion, for the sport and the cameraderie. I'll miss him. – David Leith
Sad, indeed. Randy always had a spring in his step; we often made the long trek together from Merrill to AD, after one of our physics labs—me shivering in layers, and Randy as David described: a T-shirt and shorts ... springing the whole way. Working on problem sets, I drank coffee; he and David Penfield ’79 drank Molson. A huge heart and a zest for life ... way too soon to leave us, Randy. My heartfelt sympathy for his family. May his memory be for a blessing. – Neal Swerdlow
Randy was a very kind person, with a razor-sharp mind and an ever-present smile. He leaves us way too soon. – Rob Vogel
So sad to hear. A bright light extinguished. – Joanne (Montouris) Nikitas
Randy was one of those guys who always made you smile when he walked into the room. What a great gift! I will always remember him alongside the Rongovian Embassy. When I was a freshman in James, I started a team to compete in the WHYY Midnight Sports Trivia Quiz. Randy happened to be visiting the floor as I was brainstorming for a name for the team. Randy suggested “Rongovian Embassy,” which was, and is, the name of a bar in his hometown of Trumansburg, N.Y., outside of Ithaca. So that became the name of the team. We became the regular winner of the Whole Wheat Pizza they gave to the winning team each week. RIP Randy! – Ben Rosenblum
And WHAT a laugh and smile. Randy was one of a kind! I am so sad to hear the news of his passing.– Laura Yerkovich
Sad news indeed. Nice, cheerful guy and namer of the Rongovian Embassy sports trivia team. – Dan Weltsch
Such sad news re Randy. I guess he died doing what he loved to do. I played until age 30. It is hard for me to imagine anyone keeping that up for pretty close to 40 years. He was one tough dude. – Doug Bishop