Richard Lewis Affenito

Richard Lewis Affenito — beloved husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle and friend — passed away peacefully at his home in South Carolina on May 20, with his wife Carol, who he so deeply loved, by his side.

Born in 1947 and raised in Quogue, New York, Richard graduated from Westhampton Beach High School in 1965. He was known for his quick wit, competitive fire, and his personal high school motto: “Life begins at 2:45.”

A gifted athlete, Richard excelled in both baseball and football, playing first base with natural grace and a competitive fire. After a tragic car accident in high school resulted in the loss of his right arm, he faced adversity with the same grit and determination that would define his life. Remarkably, he taught himself to throw with his left hand and went on to play men’s league softball for years, consistently batting over .400 — proving that resilience may have been his greatest skill of all.

While he never lost his love for the ball field, it was the golf course that eventually stole his heart. A proud member at various times of Manchester Country Club in New Hampshire, TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, and Naples Lakes in Florida, Richard racked up two holes-in-one and a near-legendary win-loss record. He was a fierce competitor, but he never took the game more seriously than the friendships it created.

Richard also had a lifelong love of card games. You name it, he played it — and he played to win. If you found yourself across the table from him, you’d be charmed, distracted, and then beaten — all with that trademark smirk.

When it came to cooking, Richard was a force of nature. He could whip up an Italian feast in the kitchen; and on the grill, he was king.

He was a die-hard fan of the New York Mets and New York Giants, cheering them on through thick and (mostly) thin. Richard could talk sports and politics for hours — always passionately and often with some expert-level armchair coaching that somehow always sounded right.

Professionally, Richard enjoyed a long and successful career in the insurance industry. But his greatest role — and the one he cherished most — was being the heart of his family. He was the devoted husband of Carol, his beloved partner in love and life for 50 years. Together, they built a home filled with love, laughter, and a thousand memories. They called Long Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Florida and then South Carolina home. He was a proud father to Kevin Nathan (wife Kristine) and Suzanne Harrison (husband Kevin), and an adoring grandfather to Riley Van Raaphorst (husband Cade), Jack Harrison, Ryan Nathan, Brynn Nathan, and Katy Nathan — each of whom carries a piece of his humor, resilience, and heart.

Whether in his role as Papa Rich, Uncle Rich or just Richard, he faced every challenge with a shrug and a smile, and never let anything — not loss, not injury, not a ninth-inning collapse by the Mets — dim his spirit. He lived with passion and faced hardship with grace. His impact on those lucky enough to know him will endure for generations.

Funeral services will be held at 10:45 am at the Chapel at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC on Thursday May 29.