Obituary of Richard Vernon Panicucci

Richard Vernon Panicucci, 78, of Pine Brook, New Jersey, passed away unexpectedly on November 26th.

Richard was born and raised in Paterson, graduated from Eastside High School, and earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Fairleigh Dickinson in 1964.  After a brief stint as a chemist, Richard went on to earn his MBA from F.D.U. and shortly thereafter began a 45 year career with the University rising to the rank of Full Professor, serving as the Chairman of the Accounting and Quantitative Analysis, and later Decision Sciences Departments, Director of the Academic Advisement Center, NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, Associate Dean for Student Services, and eventually Assistant Provost for Campus Life until his retirement in 2011.  

During his career with FDU, Richard was a tireless advocate for student-athletes and was the recipient of several teaching and service awards. In 1977, he was selected by the student body as the “Most Favorite Professor on Campus.”  In 2000, he received the Athletic Department Award for service to student-athletes.  In 2004 he received the Rogers Muse Award for his special contributions and dedication to the athletic department, and in the same year he received Fairleigh Dickinson’s most prestigious award; The Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching.  In 2010 the Student-Athlete Service Award was permanently renamed The Richard Panicucci Student-Athlete Service Award.  In 2011, the University bestowed to him the rank of Professor Emeritus and inducted him into the F.D.U. Hall of Fame in 2012.

Richard was a professional musician and lover of opera, but his two main passions were his family and the great outdoors.  He spent many summers and weekends fishing, camping, hiking, and tinkering around the log cabin he built himself in Upstate New York.  He was an avid wine maker, collector of antique cars, and fan of the New York Giants.  Richard, along with his wife Carol, was first and foremost an advocate for his grandchildren.  Whether it was baseball, soccer, basketball, or field hockey, Richard was at his happiest when he was watching his grandchildren hit home runs, score goals, and shoot baskets.  He will always be remembered sitting on the front porch of his cabin, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren, watching the sun set over the Catskill Mountains.

Richard is survived by his loving wife Carol and brother Ronald Panicucci.  He also leaves behind his son Richard, his wife Michele, daughter Lisa Johnson, her partner John Sciarra, and grandchildren John, Sarah, Ryan, and Aaron.

Funeral on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Keri Memorial Funeral Home, 125 Main Street, Lincoln Park, NJ, at 10 AM. Interment ,Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Paterson, NJ. Visiting on Monday from 4-8 PM.  Memorial gifts to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital would be appreciated.