Obituary of Richard George (Dick) Giles

On Sunday, February 16, 2020, Richard George (Dick) Giles, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at age 87. Dick was born on December 16, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York to David Giles and Catherine Barr. He grew up in Brooklyn, graduating from high school in June of 1950. Upon graduating from high school, he began working at Equitable Life Assurance Society. In March of 1952, during the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and served two years of active duty while earning a National Defense Service Medal. In March of 1954, Dick transferred into the Reserve of the USMC and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in March of 1960. In January of 1955, Dick enrolled at Long Island University under the “GI Bill” and he graduated from LIU in June of 1960. While working at Equitable, he met Phyllis Ruggiero, and they got married on September 2, 1956. Together, they raised one son, Rick, and one daughter, Lauren, living first in Brooklyn and later in Fort Salonga, New York until 1969. In 1969, they moved to North Easton, Massachusetts where they would live for the next forty-six years. In 2015, they moved to Princeton, New Jersey. Their move to Massachusetts was prompted by Dick’s acceptance of a job in Boston with Prudential Insurance. He subsequently accepted a position managing employee benefits for Sheraton Hotels at their corporate office in Boston, and then spent the balance of his professional career traveling to Sheraton locations throughout the world. Dick enjoyed watching football, traveling, and family time. Summers were spent in their cabin on Mousam Lake in Maine, relaxing and enjoying time with Phyllis, while eagerly awaiting visits from kids and grandkids as well as other family and friends. Upon retirement, Dick took woodworking classes and built furniture for their home and grandchildren. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; his father, David; his mother Catherine; and his ten brothers and sisters. He is survived by his son Rick and his four children, Cameron (and fiancée Russell), Christian, Caroline, and Carson, his daughter Lauren, and her two children, Sarah (and husband Dave) and Emily, his two great grandchildren, Addison and Avery, and several in-laws, cousins, nephews, and nieces. A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Saint Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow in Princeton Cemetery at 29 Greenview Avenue in Princeton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. www.alzfdn.org