Richard F. Walsh III passed away in his sleep due to heart failure on Nov. 22, 2001 at his family's home in Garden City. He was 26 years old. Richard was born in Garden City Park on Nov. 8, 1975 and grew up in Garden City Park, Garden City, as well as spending summers since he was young in Shelter Island.

Richard graduated from Garden City High School in 1994, where he played on the varsity football team. He also grew up playing lacrosse in Garden City as well as being an avid skier and an outstanding golfer. Living and growing up in Garden City, Richard made many lifelong friendships that he cherished dearly.

After graduation from Garden City, he went on to attend Curry College, located in Milton, MA. At Curry Richard majored in communications and played on both the Curry College football and lacrosse teams. In 1998 Richard broke the Curry College lacrosse team record for most goals scored in a game. He enjoyed his time at Curry and made many wonderful friendships. He graduated in 1998.

Richard also spent three summers on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket during college, where he became a fixture in the community and will be missed.

After college Richard remained in Massachusetts and settled in Boston. He lived in Boston for the past four years and many of his friends and family had nicknamed him "The Mayor" due to the amount of people he knew and the many friendships he had made.

Richard was a salesman by trade, which seemed to match his charismatic personality exactly. He began his sales career with RCN Corporation and was employed with MCI WorldCom out of Waltham, MA, for the last year. He was a very successful young man who was making a name and future for himself in the world of sales.

Richard's passions included: his family, his loving girlfriend Carol Ann Costello, his best friend Dennis Kelly as well as the rest of his devoted friends. He enjoyed social gatherings, loved to both hunt and fish and was in heaven on his father's boat the Colleen on the waters surrounding Shelter Island listening to Jimmy Buffett on a beautiful summer's day.

In his short but very fulfilling 26 years, Rich touched many lives. He was an extremely loving, dedicated and most of all humorous individual. With his effervescent personality he would light up any room that he walked into, make a person's heart skip a beat and always brought a smile to their face. He will be missed by all of those that had the great pleasure of meeting him.

Richard's beloved mother Donna predeceased him in 1993, with whom he is now reunited. He is survived by his loving father and namesake Richard F. Walsh Jr. and his stepmother Francis; his four adoring sisters, Deborah Nagle, Maureen, Suzanne and Janet Walsh; his two stepbrothers Gaetano and Keith Bavaro; and his girlfriend Carol Ann Costello.

The Walsh family received friends and family at the New Hyde Park Funeral Home and Richard was buried on Nov. 26 at Holy Rood Cemetery. The Walsh family would like to thank all of those people who have sent their well wishes and support to them during this difficult time.

Those wishing to remember Richard in a special way can make donations to the Colleen Walsh Rainbow Fund, c/o Richard Walsh, 4 Third St., Garden City Park, NY 11040. Colleen Walsh was Richard's young cousin that predeceased him after losing her fight with leukemia.