Obituary of D. Richard Knapp

D. Richard Knapp, age 78, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at his residence. Born in Jamaica, NY, he was raised in Fair Lawn and lived in Mahwah for the past 50 years. Richard was a graduate of Syracuse University where he obtained his Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 1953 and was the recipient of the Luther Gifford Award for Architecture. He was with Herb Necker Associates of Saddle Brook until retirement. He was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth's R.C. Church of Wyckoff. He is survived by his loving wife Joan (nee Lane) to whom he was married for 53 wonderful years, his four dear children; Kathleen Mech and her husband Richard of Washingtonville, NY, Theresa Miller and her husband Jeffery of Houston Texas, Joseph Knapp and his wife Mary of Columbia, NJ and Laura Kratchman and her husband Kenneth of Vernon, NJ. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren; Jessica, Erik, Devin, Robyn, Shannon, Amber, Jeffery, John, Christopher, Holly, and Kenneth, his great granddaughter Morgan, and two brothers; Kenneth Knapp of Arlington, TX and Clifford Knapp of Fair Lawn. Friends may visit the family on Thursday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff. Funeral Mass, Friday, 10:00 AM at St. Elizabeth's R.C. Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave. Wyckoff. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Center for Food Action, 281 Campgaw Road, #C2, Mahwah, NJ 07430, would be appreciated.