Richard Hiendlmayr

Richard Hiendlmayr, age 97, of Bridgeport and formerly of Fairfield, died January 26, 2021 due to Covid-19.  Richard was born at home on January 1, 1924, in Ottobeuren, Germany. He was the only child of Max Hiendlmayr and Wilhelmina Hasel. Before Richard was born, his father, an organist at the Basilica in Ottobeuren, was offered a job as organist and choir director at St. Mary’s church in Alton, Illinois. Concerned over the high cost of living for his growing family and the state of the economy in Germany at that time, Richard’s father accepted the job and emigrated to the United States. Richard and his mother joined him there in May of 1925. Richard married Alma Leone Schenk on June 12, 1948, in Alton. Together they had 7 children and were married for 55 years before Alma preceded him in death on November 13, 2003. He later married Barbara Wilbur Allen on May 27, 2006. Barbara preceded him in death on June 4, 2009. Richard attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Marquette High School, both in Alton. At age 19, he joined the Army, and because of his knowledge of German was assigned to intelligence work in the Target Section of T-Force, 12th Army group. His duties included research, preparation and publication of target dossiers and target lists for use of tactical troops and special investigations. Richard served 3 years, earning a Bronze Star, and left the service as Master Sergeant, Senior NCO, from the Operations Branch, G-2 Division, Headquarters U.S. Forces, European Theater. Richard returned to Alton and attended night school at St. Louis University, beginning in January 1946 and finishing in June 1955 with a BS in Commerce, Major in Accounting, and minors in economics and philosophy. He joined Olin Chemical Corporation in 1947 as a junior accountant, and began a 42-year career there. In June 1958 he, Alma and four children moved to Summit, New Jersey, where he worked as a financial officer in Olin’s Energy Division in New York City. In 1967, Richard and Alma (with three more children) relocated to Little Rock Arkansas where he worked as Vice President and General Manager of the Agricultural Division. In 1976 he, Alma and family made a final move with Olin to Stamford, Connecticut, where he finished his career in 1989 as Corporate Vice President and Director of Internal Audit. In his retirement, Richard served on the Board of 3030 Park and was a past president, board member, and patron of the Bridgeport Symphony. He and Alma were members of St. Pius X church in Fairfield, where he sang in the choir for many years. Richard is survived by his son Tom (Jan Ormasa) Hiendlmayr, St. Paul, MN; daughter Ann (George) Mavko, Tucson, AZ; daughter-in-law Mary Oakland Hiendlmayr, daughter Sonja (Donald) Bowe, Pennsburg, PA; daughter Lisa (Stephen) Gibbons, Wayne, PA; daughter Ingrid (Patrick) Stuhlman, Fairfield, CT; and daughter Kirsten (Robert) Merkle, Bloomington, IL. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and 1 great grandson. Also surviving are his brother-in-law George (Jean) Schenk, Godfrey, IL, and his cousins Helene Gehring and Willi Hasel, both of Ottobeuren, Germany. Richard was preceded in death by a son, Edward Max Hiendlmayr, and two grandsons, Aaron Ormasa Hiendlmayr and Evan Ormasa Hiendlmayr. The family would like to thank all of the staff at the Watermark Assisted Living facility, especially Richard’s caregivers - Dorothy, Devon, Simone, and Kewidea. Richard’s pride and joy was his family. He was a stickler for detail. He loved music, particularly that of the organ, model trains and hardware stores (Sears), where he would often go to “see what it is I didn’t know I needed.” He loved ice-cream and chocolate. He enjoyed playing golf, and would often spend evenings reading in his chair in the family room, with the lid off the candy jar that sat on the table next to him.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday, May 17, 2021 at 11:00am at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield, CT 06824; with burial to be held in Alton, Illinois. Memorial donations may be made to The Bridgeport Symphony, 446 University Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604, attention Mark Halstead.