Arlington, VA-Stephen Edward Richmond, passed away suddenly Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, at the University of Virginia Hospital, in Carlottesville, VA, with complications of Melanoma.
He was born July 13, 1955.
He is survived by his son, Nicholas Richmond and Samantha, adoring grandchildren, Nickie, Aamya, and Noah Richmond, of New York; his loving mother, Mary Jane Richmond; sisters, Linda Durham and Richard, of Lewisburg, Brenda Bengtson and Robert, of Roanoke, VA; his special nieces and nephews, that held dear to his heart, Gregory Richmond, Jonathan and Hannah Durham, of Roanoke, VA, Tyler, Hayley, Tanner, and Hunter Bengston, of Roanoke, VA; grandniece, Alexis Richmond, of Charleston, WV; and lots of extended cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur D. Richmond.
Stephen was a graduate of Greenbrier East High School, and in 1973, joined the United States Navy, He graduated from Hospital Corp School, United States Navy, Great Lakes, IL, in 1974. In 1976, he served in the National Naval Medical Command Center, USN, Bethesda, MD, graduated in Respiratory/Cardiopulmonary, in 1987, completed his biology at North Virginia College.
Stephen served as a US Naval Corpsmen, as a Respiratory Therapist at Montgomery General Hospital for Mid Maryland Lung Association. Providing respiratory care for Cystic Fibrosis. He was a Respiratory Care Practitioner at National Children’s Medical Center, in Washington, DC. He was a Biologist of Science Research Critical Care Medicine at National Institutes of Health where he supervised microbiology and cardiopulmonary labs performing Intramural Research. Retiring with 30 years of service to NIH.
Stephen was special, who made an indelible impression on those he met. It is hard to articulate how much he meant to us all. He was loved and respected by many. We are all better people for the legacy he left behind. He spent most of his adult life in his career researching cancer at NIH.
Throughout his life he had a passion for all genres of music, a scholar some would say, insightful, sincere, deep, with intense boundless energy and inclusive with his warmth. He had an encyclopedia of knowledge of music, (and other things too) from Jazz, Blues, Rock and Roll, and Pop, also a great respect for many overlooked composers of the past. Music to him grabbed the heart at the lost fundamental and human core, and moves us to feel the profundity of our existence. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed his photography, sharing his photos with family and friends. He will be remembered as a great father and grandfather. The Virtue of Kindness is something to fight for and to treasure, and it can be found in love.
Per his wishes his body was donated to the WVSOM Human Gift Registry.
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