Richard John Torquato

Richard (Dick) John Torquato passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 1:55 am in Boca Raton, FL joining his wife Sandra, 8 weeks after her passing. Dick was born March 13, 1928 in Troia, Italy while his mother was home visiting her family but grew up in Windber, PA. He was the youngest of 8 children to Adeline & John Torquato.

Dick enlisted in the US Navy September 27, 1945 to fight for his country in WW2.  After the war ended, he attended Concord College in Athens, W. VA, graduating with a BA in communications. After graduating, Dick went into broadcasting, staying in W. VA. As he had met the love of his life, Sandra Godsey while attending college. They married after dating only 6 months in 1951 and remained happily married until Sandra’s death on January 4, 2019.

After marrying Sandra, Dick brought his beautiful new wife back to Windber, PA where he had grown up and they lived there until 1977 when they, with their only child Natalie, moved to Boca Raton, FL.

Dick went into the insurance business after working in broadcasting and owned his own insurance company. He stayed active in his insurance business until the age of 89 when he finally gave up his license.

Together with his wife Sandy & daughter Natalie, he traveled extensively, both internationally and domestically. Sometimes toting along their family dog, Koko.  Dick passed his love of travel and gambling on to his daughter Natalie, who was the apple of his eye. When he bought her first car for her, it came with a license plate that read “Daddy’s Girl”, which she most certainly was.

Dick was an avid golfer and the only people that he loved more than his Pittsburgh Steelers was his family. His favorite past time was attending or watching Steelers games with Sandy, Natalie and later her husband Darren. Dick bled black and gold, to be sure.

Dick is survived by his loving daughter, his son in law Darren Gross, who was more like a son, and 4 fur grandchildren, Janeane, Sidney, Pepper and a Paisley as well as many relatives and friends.

Richard and Sandra’s ashes will be interred at St. Anthony of Padua cemetery, in the Torquato mausoleum, Windber, PA. There, Dick and Sandy will spend eternity together, along with the ashes of their beloved Bichon Frise, Tiffany.

A celebration of Dick and Sandy’s lives will take place in Windber, PA and a funeral mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.  Details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy be made in Richard’s name to “Feeling Fine Canine & Equine Rescue” 754-234-7027.  Both Dick and Sandy were avid animal lovers and this was their wish.

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