Richard J Vivacqua

VIVACQUA - Richard J. December 8, 2015, beloved husband of Mary Kate (nee Flynn); dear father of Catherine K., Daniel R. (Russell Petrus); loving son of Louise and the late Richard C. Vivacqua; brother of Rosemarie (Robert) Foulds, Lydia (Timothy) Brenner, Kathryn (Michael) Anderson, Susan (David) Grubb.

Friends may call Saturday and Sunday 3-7 PM at the DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 8630 Transit Rd., East Amherst (one mile north of Maple Rd. just past Klein Rd.). Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial from St. Gregory the Great RC Church Monday at 9 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute or the St. Vincent dePaul Society at St. Gregory the Great. Condolences at www.denglerrobertspernafuneral.com

Richard “Rick” Vivacqua was born in Buffalo, NY in 1956 as the second child of Richard “Dick” and Louise Vivacqua. He was the only, and therefore the favorite, brother to his four sisters. Rick was proud of his Catholic education at St. Gregory the Great school, Canisius High School and St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. After graduating from his beloved St. John Fisher College, Rick was a business owner, starting his career in 1980 in the family owned Vivacqua Insurance and Company. Rick eventually took over the family business from his father, and joined the Lawley Insurance Group in 2003. Throughout his career, Rick received much recognition and commendation, even serving at one point as President of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of WNY. Outside of his career, Rick was very involved in the Buffalo community and in his faith community. Rick was an Executive Pastoral Council Member and former trustee of St. Gregory the Great church, an active member of the St. Greg’s St. Vincent dePaul Society, a recipient of the St. Joseph the Worker award, and former President of the Board of Directors of Parish Religious Education. In the Buffalo community, Rick was a generous donor to multiple important causes and organizations. He was a volunteer at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, who took great care of him throughout his various health struggles. Rick, or “Stitch” as his best friends knew him, will be greatly missed by those best friends, his loving wife, his children who were incredibly lucky to have him as a father, his devoted mother and sisters, and all of those who were touched by his generosity and love throughout the years