On Saturday, August 27, Richard D. Hedelund, loving husband and father of three, passed away at the age of 79 in Virginia Beach, VA. Born March 1, 1943 in Massachusetts to Donald R. Hedelund and Lillian Bolduc. Richard devoted 50 years to the USN and our country with his military and civilian career. In 1961, he embarked on his distinguished Naval career as an E-1, spanning 26 years, and retiring from the USN as LCDR. Richard stayed on the waterfront in a civilian capacity as one of the first US Navy Port Engineers, serving for 24 years. In 2018, he was inducted into the Port Engineer Hall of Fame. Richard ultimately started his own business conducting surveys on private watercraft and he taught corrosion prevention techniques to Port Engineers, part time, until 2019 when he finally, FINALLY, retired.
Richard was revered as a dedicated husband, father, and grandparent. Celebrating 55 years of marriage and, by any measure, a loving, supporting, yet no-nonsense father and grandpa to his children and grandchildren. Richard's hobbies including sailing the Chesapeake Bay on his sailboat the 'Suzy Q'. He also enjoyed reading and traveling the world with his beloved, Sue.
Richard leaves behind his cherished wife, Mary Susan Hedelund, their three children, Donald (Kimberly) Hedelund, Christine (Mark) Greco, Jacqueline (Douglas) Newman, and eight grandchildren, Eric, Kaitlynn, Danielle, Brandon, Rene, Lauryn, Matthew, and Emma, who all will miss him dearly. The visitation will be held on September 12, 2022 from 6pm-8pm at Smith & Williams Funeral Home 4889 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. A graveside service will be held on September 13, 2022 at 1 pm at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery 5310 Milners Rd, Suffolk, VA 23413. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead donate to the Alzheimer's Association of Virginia in honor of Richard.
