Richard C. Handel,

Richard C. Handel, Sr., 93, of East Hartford, passed away unexpectedly on Friday (December 22, 2006). He was the loving husband of the late Margaret (Luby) Handel. Born on July 12, 1913 in Glastonbury, a son of the late Christian and Lillian Handel, he had resided in East Hartford for 65 years. He was a graduate of Glastonbury High School, Class of 1932. Prior to his retirement, he was employed for 39 years by the Southern New England Telephone Company. He was a long-time active member of South Congregational Church, East Hartford where he was a former Deacon and member of the church Finance Committee. Richard was a past Chairman of the Boy Scout Troop #61, East Hartford; past President of the Goodwin School PTA and East Hartford High School PTA; a former Board member of the East Hartford Board of Education; past President of the Hartford Council of Telephone Pioneers and Chapter Chairman of the Morris Chapter of Telephone Pioneers; former member of the Board of Directors of the Hartford Industrial Management Club; and for many years was a volunteer for the Library for the Blind where he repaired Talking Book Machines. Besides his beloved wife, Richard was predeceased by a sister, H. Christine Handel and a brother, Kenneth Handel. Richard is survived by a daughter, Margery LaPointe and her husband, Donald, of Brooklyn; a son, Richard C. Handel, Jr. and his wife, Sandra, of Portland; a dear and devoted companion, D. Pauline Lane of East Hartford; a sister, Barbara Moore of Bedford, MA; four special grandchildren, Kathleen LaPointe Rogers and her husband, Charles, of Ringwood, NJ, Kenneth LaPointe and his wife, Betty, of Narragansett, RI, Karen LaPointe Scott and her husband, William, of Ridgefield, Nicole Handel Loranger and her husband, Christopher, of North Providence, RI; nine adored great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be Wednesday, December 27th with a celebration of Richard's life at 10:30 a.m. at South Congregational Church, East Hartford with Rev. Albert Turner officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Relatives and friends may call at the D'ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford on Tuesday, December 26th from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Richard's name may be made to South Congregational Church, 1301 Forbes Street, East Hartford, CT, 06118. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www. desopo.com.