After a few days of being serenaded by harp and guitar playing and singing, Richard Eugene Roukous passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 7, 2023, after a 12-year battle with prostate cancer. He was the last to leave the party.

Richard was born in Meadville, PA, on November 7, 1956, the third of seven children of Norma and Maurice Roukous.  Richard treasured his Meadville roots, which fostered his importance of family and friends and planted the seed for his compassionate attributes. He lived in Meadville until his senior year in high school, then moved with his family to Warwick, Rhode Island where he developed a lifelong love of sailing. 

Richard attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  In 1980, when employed with A.C. Nielsen he moved to Richmond, Virginia after requesting a location that was near the ocean and the mountains.  He then went to Virginia Commonwealth University for graduate study where he met his future wife, Shevaun McDarby, and married in 1984.  

Richard was proud of his Lebanese and Irish ancestry, loved basketball, golf, sailing, shinrin-yoku, the Pittsburgh Steelers, hummus, and Coppola’s Deli.  He was an inspiration to many.  He was a lover of all aspects of life, from family to friends to countless personal interests. While he worked in banking and marketing throughout his adult life, his professional career did not define him or come close to describing the depths of his passions and personality.

He was a beloved father and grandfather, a loving husband, a brother to lean on, a best friend, an athlete, sailor, listener, author, comedian, role model, mentor, therapist, music connoisseur, adventurer, teacher, radio show host, and dancer.  Music played a big role in his life, but he specifically requested to include that he wasn’t a fan of drum solos! 

He could do it all, and he did it well.  He touched the lives of so many spanning generations.  He was adaptable, forgiving, comforting, a nucleus of energy and happiness, and welcoming.  He was nonjudgmental and happily shared his perspective and ideas without expecting anyone to think like he did.  

Richard is survived and much loved by many, including his mother, Norma; his wife, Shevaun; his children Dylan (Susan), Kyle (Angie) and Natalie; grandchildren Aven and Violet; siblings Mark, Tom (Sue), Dan, Kevin (Jennifer) Teresa (Bill), and Kathleen (Jack); along with his mother-in-law, Doris Eichorn, and numerous in-laws and extended family members. He was predeceased by his father, Maurice, his grandparents Thomas and Zoud Roukous and Gerald and Gertrude Boyd, and Aunt Maxine and Uncle Jim. 

Richard was a treasure and a gift, and he will forever be deeply missed by everyone who had the fortune of knowing and loving him.  Once plans are organized for a celebration of his life we will share information and look forward to seeing you all for a party he would have loved to attend.

Richard’s family would like to thank the compassionate doctors and staff at the Bon Secours Community Hospice House for taking care of Richard and providing support to the family. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to send a donation, please consider Bon Secours Community Hospice House in Bon Air, Virginia, or Royalton Community Radio in South Royalton, Vermont. 

To honor Richard’s memory, his family suggests striving to live as Richard did. Appreciate the small things, have an open mind, and delve deeper into relationships and connecting with others because in the end, that’s what’s important. May he rest in peace.  No restrictions, babe.