Richard G. Sagan ’49 died on September 3, 2020 in South Lyme, Connecticut.
(The following was published by The Day on September 6, 2020)
Richard G. Sagan Sr., 92, passed away September 3, 2020. He was the son of the late Charles and Christine Sagan. He was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Ferris Sagan for almost seventy years.
With his brothers, he owned and operated the well-renowned and popular Sagan Cafeteria in downtown Hartford for twenty years. After selling the business, he pursued his hobby of flying. He earned his instructor’s certificate and worked for Air Kaman at Bradley Field. He then became a corporate pilot, flying exclusively for Cigna.
Mr. Sagan was active over sixty years in the Masonic fraternity, having received the Pierpont Edwards Medal in bronze for distinguished service. He was district deputy for District 7B, secretary of Estuary Lodge No. 43, a member of Silas Deane Lodge No. 147, Scottish Rite Valley of Hartford and Consistory Valley of Norwich, Burning Bush/Washington Chapter #6, Columbia Council R & S.M. Cyrene Commandery #8, Mohawk Council #28, Conn York Rite College #17, Knight Crusaders of the Cross, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, Sphinx Shrine, Royal Order of Jesters #141 and Westbrook Elks Lodge No. 1784.
He was a past president of the Federation of Old Lyme Beaches, served as a governor of the Point O’ Woods Association, past Harbor Master when the Harbor Commission was first formed, and served on the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association, the Republican Town Committee, and the Old Lyme Cemetery Association. In 1999, Mr. Sagan was selected and honored as Citizen of the Year in the Town of Old Lyme.
In addition to his wife, Betty, he is survived by son C. Gregory Sagan and his wife, Marty, of Plymouth, MN; son Richard G. Sagan (Rick) and his wife, Jan, of Ludow, VT, and daughter Kimberlee J. Zahn and her husband, Philip, of Littleton, CO. He has numerous grandchildren: Amy and her husband, Brian, Ryan Sagan and his wife, Erica, Michael Sagan and his wife, Kelly, Benjamin Sagan, Melanie Pompei and her husband, Lou, and Natalie Sims and her husband, Matt. Also, he has seven great-grandchildren: Emma, Katie, Claire, Grayson, Kari, Nicholas and Matthew; his brother Steven (deceased), and his wife, Rosanna, of Miami, Fla.; brother William and his wife Elaine (both deceased); sister June Rand and her husband, Richard, (both deceased).