On Thursday evening, May 20, 2021, Brandon Travis Richter of Highland passed away at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie. His parents were with him at the time of his death.
Brandon was born on June 24, 1980 in Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, the son of Neal O. Richter and Cheryl A (Malgieri) Richter.
He is survived by his parents, his beloved twin children Michael and Madison Richter, age 17, his grandmother Geraldine Malgieri of Saugerties, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his grandparents A. Nicholas Malgieri, Harry C. Richter, and Catherine (Richter) Robinson, his Aunts, Cathy (Malgieri) Owen, and Kathryn Richter, and Uncles Nicholas Malgieri and Craig Richter.
Brandon was a lifelong resident of Highland, and graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes High School in 1998.
Brandon had many friends in the area and loved to laugh. He loved sports, cars, ATV’s, movies, music, and great restaurants. One of the most fun times of his life was playing in the Highland Little League and Senior League programs with all his great teammates.
His prized possession was his 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack, which was equipped with hand controls which enabled him to be able to drive it.
One of his favorite things to do was go to Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, NY, to see the annual “Night of Fire” when they raced jet propelled dragsters and tractor-trailer trucks as well as street rods, motorcycles, and snowmobiles.
The joy of his life were his twins, Michael and Madison. They meant everything to him and he loved them with all his heart. His children adored him, too, and they are comforted with knowing how much he loved them.
Brandon had hundreds of doctors, nurses, technicians, and aides at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, West Chester Medical Center in Valhalla, and Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw who gave him the best care possible and enabled him to fight his illnesses as long as he did.
The care he was given by all the great doctors and nurses at Vassar Hospital during the last days of his life was extraordinary. He was definitely a strong person who refused to give in to his illnesses until the very end, but without the care and kindness shown by everyone there, it would have been much tougher. Vassar’s Wound Care Center was great, too.
Brandon had various jobs during his life. He made pizzas, worked in construction, drove tractor trailers, and was the office manager for Meticulous, Inc. of Milton, NY, a company which moves and stores antiques and fine art.
The list of people whose lives were touched by Brandon is very long, and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.
If anyone wishes to make a donation in Brandon’s name, any one of these places would be greatly appreciated: the New York-Presbyterian heart transplant program, the American Spinal Association or Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie.
Calling hours are Tuesday May 25, 2021 from 3-8 pm at the Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home Inc., 38 Main St. Highland, NY 12528.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday May 26, 2021, 11 am at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Highland. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery of Lloyd in Highland.
For directions or to send the family an online condolence or sympathy card please visit our website at www.torsonememorial.com