Richard Conrad Jr '58

Richard (Dick) Folger Conrad, Jr., 85, of South Burlington, sailed over the horizon on his final voyage on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 at UVM Medical Center following a prolonged illness. He was born on September 2nd, 1940 in Nantucket, MA, son of Richard and Eloise (Gennett) Conrad, Sr.

He graduated from Fryeburg Academy, Fryeburg, ME in 1958. He married the love of his life Sue Ellen (Thurber) on March 4th, 1961, the two having met on a blind date in 1957. Dick grew up with sailing in his blood, easy to do when you live on an island! His maternal grandfather instilled in him a love of hands-on work, and Dick could be found at Papa Netts' side as the two of them worked on his maternal grandparents' summer home "Driftwood" on Nantucket. Dick's strong work ethic combined with the hands-on skills proved to be an invaluable asset as the years went by - he was always willing to lend his talents to friends and neighbors, much appreciated by one and all. When his daughters were old enough to buy their first vehicles (pre- owned!!), Dick could be counted on to help with needed repairs alongside the vehicle's owner. Consequently, all four daughters inherited those hands-on skills.

Dick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1960, serving aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Haynsworth from 1960-62. During that time, the ship and its crew spent 7 months in the Mediterranean to include a number of trips through the Suez Canal and ports of call to places like Mombasa, Kenya plus others. The Haynsworth was also involved in the Cuban Missile blockade. For his final year of active duty, Dick was stationed at Memphis Naval Air Station in Millington, TN. From there, Dick, Sue, and their first two daughters moved to Burlington, VT. In 1970 and having added two more daughters to the family, and much to the astonishment of other family members and friends, the family moved to Australia where they remained for two years before returning stateside. It was back to Vermont briefly, then to Massachusetts, then to Connecticut, and back to Massachusetts. In 1993, tired of snow/cold/long winter nights, and with the girls on their own, he and Sue moved to Florida where they lived for 33+ years. Boating once again featured prominently and given the fact it could be done year-round, the search was on. A sailboat was initially tops on the list but because they lived on Florida's west coast where the water depth was shallower, a power boat was the best option. First boat was a 28-footer they named "Warrawee," a nod to their time in Australia and aboriginal for "our favorite resting place". After a few years of weekend boating (he and Sue were still working then), the idea of a larger boat came up.....at the urging of Sue, of all people, who grew up in the city with no boating experience at all!!! Back to the hunt, this time for a boat suitable for living aboard (again, Sue's idea but with Dick's enthusiastic backing!). The result was a 43-foot 1989 Chris Craft Catalina 381 they named "Spindrift". Necessary repairs/additions were carried out while Dick and Sue were still working.

Dick retired in 2004 and Sue in 2005."Spindrift" was already home-ported in Ft. Myers Beach, FL so after Sue's retirement party, it was on the road from Seminole, FL to Ft. Myers Beach and the liveaboard life for the next nine years. Due to health issues, reluctantly the decision was made to sell and once again become "landlubbers". Nevertheless, the friends made during our boating years remained for quite some time; sadly a number of them preceded Dick's passing.

Dick is survived by his wife Sue, daughter and son-in-law Madeline and David Kerstetter of VT, daughter and son-in-law Amy and David Connelley of AR, daughter Nancy Conrad of MA, and daughter and son-in-law Stephanie and Christopher Lynch of VT. He is also survived by four grandsons (Joseph and Christopher Moore, Benjamin Kerstetter, and Andrew Lynch), two granddaughters (Gennett Kerstetter and Michelle Lynch), one great-grandson (Topher Moore) and two great-granddaughters (Grace and Lilly Moore) as well as sister and brother-in-law Ruby and Wayne Gibson of FL and brother and sister-in-law Peter and Janet Conrad of NH, several nieces, nephews, and a cousin, plus friends in Florida.

He was predeceased by his parents, older sister and brother-in-law Catherine (Cat) and Harlan Slayton, several uncles, aunts, and cousins.

No services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements are in the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County, a division of the Ready Family.