Richard A. Slepetys died peacefully on May 25, 2023. His 95 years began in Lithuania. He was born between the wars, when Lithuania was independent, but sadly saw her fall to Stalin’s tyranny. From a devout Catholic family, like many Lithuanians, he prayed to Our Lady of Dawn’s Gate for safety, and always viewed her as his protector, as he escaped Lithuania with his sister Ruta (deceased) and traveled to safety to occupied Germany. There, in a displaced person’s camp, he met his wife, Regina (deceased). Their families in the US sponsored their safe passage to America, where they married after Richard completed his chemical engineering degree and eventually his doctorate in chemistry. They had a daughter (Ruta, surviving). Richard worked for two chemical companies in his career and afterwards was an adjunct professor in physics and mathematics at a local university. Richard was always an accomplished athlete, playing tennis well into his 80’s, then switching to ping-pong. While at the Pines, he learned how to play pool. Richard and Regina had a long happy marriage and travelled the world, as well as enjoying their home in Cedarcroft sailing, water-skiing, and socializing with many friends and neighbors before moving to the Pines and making new friends. He was a parishioner of St Dominic's while living in Brick and joined St Elizabeth Ann Seton's parish when he and Regina moved to the Pines.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Ruta Slepetys, and his sister’s family in Holland: Mary Spuybroek and her children (Sebastiaan and Konstantijn [wife Sheranie and daughter Floortje].

Family and friends are invited to gather on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at the Carmona-Bolen Home for Funerals, 66 Lacey Road, Whiting, NJ. A Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 10:45AM at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton RC Church, 30 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the following:

Mons. Kestutis Latoza

Ausros Vartu g. 14

01303 Vilnius, Lithuania

Franciscan Fathers

28 Beach Ave

Kennebunk Port, Maine 04046

EWTN

5817 Old Leeds Road

Irondale, AL 35210

VFW Post 8867

375 Adamston Road

Brick, NJ 08723

Attention: Nate Amadeo, Commander