Obituary for Richard Pica
Richard Pica, 78, died at Geisinger Community Medical Center on Wednesday after a brief illness. He and his wife, the former Jay Beezer, would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary Aug. 1.
He was born in Scranton, the son of the late Joseph and Ann Lucke Pica. He was a 1958 graduate of Scranton Technical High School and served in the United States Army. He founded Pica's Garage Doors Sales and Service, which has been in business for over 50 years, and is now run by his son. He was a member of the Scranton Fire Department from 1965 to 1995. He was Deputy Chief from 1986 to 1990 and served as superintendent of the Bureau of Fires from 1990 until his retirement in 1995. He was also president of the I.A.F.F. Local 669 now Local 60. He was a longtime member of the German American Federation of Scranton (Waldorf Park).
He was a "hard core" fisherman and enjoyed being at his property at Cayuga Lake. He was known as "Grandpa Chief' by his grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Philip Boccagno for all his care and kindness.
Also surviving are a son, Richard Pica Jr. and wife, Erin, Scranton; daughter, Debra Childers, Atlanta, Ga.; his grandchildren, Dominic Pica, Ericka Pica and Luke Pica, Scranton; Matthew Childers and Jackson Childers, Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, David Pica; and Tony Pica and his wife, Marlene; a sister, Patricia Cerra; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, Joseph (Sonny) Pica, of Florida.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in Miller Bean Funeral Home Inc., 436 Cedar Ave., Scranton. Interment will follow in Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.
Friends may call Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Scranton Firefighters Honor Guard, 518 Mulberry St. Scranton, PA 18503.
He was born in Scranton, the son of the late Joseph and Ann Lucke Pica. He was a 1958 graduate of Scranton Technical High School and served in the United States Army. He founded Pica's Garage Doors Sales and Service, which has been in business for over 50 years, and is now run by his son. He was a member of the Scranton Fire Department from 1965 to 1995. He was Deputy Chief from 1986 to 1990 and served as superintendent of the Bureau of Fires from 1990 until his retirement in 1995. He was also president of the I.A.F.F. Local 669 now Local 60. He was a longtime member of the German American Federation of Scranton (Waldorf Park).
He was a "hard core" fisherman and enjoyed being at his property at Cayuga Lake. He was known as "Grandpa Chief' by his grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Philip Boccagno for all his care and kindness.
Also surviving are a son, Richard Pica Jr. and wife, Erin, Scranton; daughter, Debra Childers, Atlanta, Ga.; his grandchildren, Dominic Pica, Ericka Pica and Luke Pica, Scranton; Matthew Childers and Jackson Childers, Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, David Pica; and Tony Pica and his wife, Marlene; a sister, Patricia Cerra; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, Joseph (Sonny) Pica, of Florida.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in Miller Bean Funeral Home Inc., 436 Cedar Ave., Scranton. Interment will follow in Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.
Friends may call Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Scranton Firefighters Honor Guard, 518 Mulberry St. Scranton, PA 18503.