Monday, July 20, 2020
I just came upon the knowledge of Dick's passing. I was a DEP colleague of Richard. We both rose through the ranks to be Deputy Commissioners and departed the Agency we both loved and in many ways grew up in, in 1996. What a terrific person in every aspect . A top notch civil engineer, problem solver, terrific team player....and most of all a warm and honest, fun loving, and an outstanding humanistic managerial leader of hundreds of staff.
Water main breaks in a busy metropolis like NYC could unravel any ordinary individual.......but not Dick. He would stay calm, and with the support and confidence of staff that he well earned....would move methodically through all the steps that needed to bring resolution to such engineering challenges. He always represented those he led in a professional and supportive manner. He was a great advocate for one of the world's finest water systems.....NYC water. And for all the years he was a guardian of that system he served the system and all the citizens of NYC admirably.
His kind will be sorely missed.
Steven Ostrega
