Richard Donald Graham

Richard Donald Graham (Rich), 78, passed away peacefully on May 6 at his home in Forest, VA, with his devoted wife, Josephine (Castronovo) Graham, by his side. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Born on May 1, 1947, in Pittsfield, MA, Rich was the cherished son of Donald and Sonya Graham. He was a proud 1965 graduate of Pittsfield High School, where he formed lifelong friendships and developed a deep affection for his hometown’s traditions, especially the July 4th and Halloween parades.

In 1978, Rich earned his Electrical Engineering degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Western New England University—an achievement that reflected both his intellect and his drive.

He began his distinguished engineering career at General Electric, entering the Draftsman Design Program and eventually transferring to Power Transformer Operations. When the Pittsfield plant closed, he relocated to Hickory, NC, continuing his 20+ year tenure with GE in large transformer design. Rich went on to work in electrical design for Hipotronics in New York and later joined Delta Star in Lynchburg, VA, where he rose from electrical design manager to operations manager until his retirement in 2011.

Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Rich embraced a life full of adventure, especially in his younger years. He found great joy in sailing, snorkeling, camping, and family trips to places like Mt. Greylock, Truro on Cape Cod, and Rocky Neck State Park—memories that became treasured touchstones. Skiing remained a lifelong passion, a constant throughout the seasons of his life. In his later years, Rich nurtured his love of travel, enjoying several Windstar sailing cruises, a dream trip to Tahiti, and especially to Europe and Aruba where he visited several times a year, often in the company of close family and friends.

An avid fan of Formula 1 racing and New England Patriots, he brought energy and joy to everything he did. Rich had a deep affinity for high-performance autos, owning several European sports cars throughout his life. He was a longtime member of the Blue Ridge Region, Porsche Club of America and the Lynchburg British Car Club, where he made many close friends who shared in his love of cars. A highlight for Rich was when he had the opportunity to attend the Grand Prix in Monaco in 2014 with Josephine.

Rich is survived by his wife Josephine; his children: Michael (Shanna), Elizabeth (Timothy), Andrew (Jessica), and Jeffrey (Kristen); his siblings: Roger (Cathy) and Patricia (Robert); and his many adored grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Rich will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Rich’s legacy of love, curiosity, and dedication lives on in those he mentored and inspired. May he rest in peace. In lieu of flowers, PSC research funding donations can be made at pscpartners.org.

A memorial gathering to honor Richard’s life will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg.

Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.