Richard V. Proffitt

He was born in Hollis, New York, on June 24, 1926, to Victor A. and Geraldine J. Proffitt. He grew up during the Great Depression, selling newspapers and collecting scrap metal for pocket money. From an early age, Dick loved flying model airplanes—a passion that would stay with him throughout his life.

At age 17, he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces and trained as a mechanic on B-17 and B-29 aircraft in Guam during the Asiatic Pacific Campaign of World War II. He also drove a jeep serving as Ground Control, guiding airplanes safely in and out.

After returning home, his best friend Boris encouraged him to use the GI Bill to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. He later transferred to New York University, where he graduated in 1953.

Dick began his professional career at Western Electric, the equipment manufacturing division of the Bell System, at a time when telephone operators still connected calls manually. He later joined General Electric as a manufacturing and design engineer in the Small Appliance Division, where he designed the first dehumidifier. While working full time, he attended night school and earned his Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) designation. Over the course of his career, he was awarded three patents.

Dick was subsequently hired by American Machine and Foundry (AMF), where he was promoted to Manager of Engineering for the Food Service Division. There, he designed commercial French fryers, lowerator plate dispensers, airline beverage carts, and many other products. He later left AMF to establish The Proffitt Group and became an engineering consultant for General Electric, Farberware, Kendall Marine, and others. He served as Vice President of the National Society of Professional Engineers of Connecticut and sat on the Industry Advisory Boards for Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for Cooking Equipment Standards and for the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for Commercial Cooking.

While attending Champlain College, Dick met his future wife, Grace Boone, who was studying at Plattsburgh State Teachers College in Rouses Point, New York. They exchanged many love letters before marrying in 1950. In their early years together, Dick converted their 1950 Buick Special for camping—complete with a bed and window screens—and the two spent time visiting National Parks across the country. They were blessed with two children, Diane and Glenn.

Dick and Grace learned to ski in the 1950s on wooden skis and leather boots. Later, while living in Illinois, they were members of the Flatlanders Ski Club and enjoyed trips to Aspen and the Alps. In the 1970s, they became a skiing family, spending nearly every weekend in Vermont.

After moving to Essex, Dick introduced his family to sailing and purchased a Lightning sailboat. He and his children raced Blue Jays in the spring and summer on the Connecticut River with the Pettipaug Yacht Club.

Dick’s lifelong love affair with aviation continued well beyond his military service. He earned his private pilot’s license in the mid-1960s and, in 1987, purchased a 1977 Piper Cherokee 140. He logged more than 1,250 flight hours flying out of Madison, Goodspeed, and Chester airports. He especially cherished flying along the Connecticut shoreline with his daughter Diane, a commercial pilot for United Airlines. Dick flew until the age of 88 and was awarded the Wright Brothers Award for 50 years of safe flying without incident. One of his greatest memories was when Diane took him into the Boeing 727 simulator at United Airlines and he experienced “flying a jet.”

Dick loved to travel and explored Europe, South America, New Zealand, and Australia.

Two and a half years ago, Dick moved to an independent apartment at Masonicare at Mystic to be closer to his son Glenn and daughter-in-law, Maureen. The staff there became like family, providing incredible care and friendship. He embraced this chapter of his life with enthusiasm, purpose, and gratitude.

Determined to maintain his strength and independence, Dick privately hired a personal trainer as well as physical and occupational therapists, incorporating them into his weekly routine. He played bridge every Thursday and kept a full, active schedule. Even in the weeks leading up to his hospitalization on January 31, 2026, he was riding the recumbent exercise bike three times a week for fifteen minutes at a time—disciplined, focused, and strong in both body and spirit.

Dick especially loved getting out of his apartment for outings to Dog Watch Café and S&P Oyster with Glenn, Maureen, and friends. For his 98th birthday, he had one specific request: a slider from Dog Watch and no birthday cake. True to form, the candle was placed right on top of the slider—perfectly “him,” and a memory that continues to bring a smile.

A lifelong engineer, Dick remained curious and engaged until the very end. At age 98, he identified a design flaw at the Masonicare front entrance that allowed cold air to rush into the lobby each winter. One of his final acts was to design, fund, and oversee the installation of heated entryway doors—ensuring the comfort of staff and residents alike. The project was completed within weeks of his passing, a fitting legacy of his problem-solving spirit and quiet generosity.

Dick was predeceased by his beloved wife, Grace Boone Proffitt; his parents; his sister, Janet J. Proffitt; and his brother, Peter D. Proffitt. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Ann Proffitt.

He is survived by his daughter, Diane L. Proffitt of Fort Collins, Colorado, and her daughter, his granddaughter, Angela Kimball of Fort Collins, Colorado; and by his son, R. Glenn Proffitt, and Glenn’s wife, Maureen, of Mystic, Connecticut. He is also survived by Maureen’s children, Jack Walsh and Kelly Walsh of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, who were a loving part of his extended family.

In accordance with Dick's wishes, he will be cremated, and no services or public gatherings are planned.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick's memory may be made to the Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut,

P.O. Box 70,

Wallingford, CT 06492-7001.