Richard "Dick" Hand

Belmont, NY - Richard "Dick" Hand of Greenwich Street passed away on Wednesday January 20, 2010 at his family home. He was born on February 15, 1943 in Wellsville to Ernest and Josephine Speta Hand. On September 18, 1965 he married the former Sonya Seeley who survives.

Dick was a life long resident of Belmont who graduated from Belmont Central School and continued his education by graduating from Purdue University and from RIT with a master's degree. He worked for Sylvania in Williamsville and later was a professor of electrical engineering at Alfred State College retiring from there in 1997 after 25 years of teaching. Dick was a very talented man who could do most anything and do it well. He played the organ, repaired televisions until a few years ago, and gardening was his passion. He will be remembered for his garden at his mother's house along with his potato farm on Beech Hill and his love for animals. He loved to cook and can and never let anything go to waste that he grew or harvested. Dick was a past Belmont Fire Department Chief serving a 3 year term, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, the NRA, the Arbor Day Foundation and attended the Belmont United Methodist Church. He was an active member of the Belmont Masonic Lodge serving as secretary and his other Masonic order memberships include, The Order of the Eastern Star, Scottish Rite Masons, Shriners of North America, Past Masters Association and the Ismailia Cart Korps.

Surviving beside his wife are: a son Mark (Kelly) Hand of Belmont; three daughters, Teresa (Greg) Turner of Peyton, CO., Nicole (Jim) Bryant of Almo, KY. and Sergeant Kristen Hand serving in the U.S. Air Force in England. 5 grandchildren; Emily, Adam and Megan Hand; Ella Bryant and Aspen Turner; a sister, Marlee (Joe) Schmitt of Angelica; several nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday January 24 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm in the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Belmont. A Masonic Service will be held at 8:30 pm on Sunday in the Funeral Home. His funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 am in the Funeral Home with Rev. Doug Childress presiding. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery and memorials may be made to the Belmont United Methodist Church, Shriners Hospital or to the SPCA.