Obituary of Richard S. Ringwood

Richard S. Ringwood, 81, of Endwell, NY and Sarasota, FL died October 30, 2014. He was born December 26, 1932 in Kansas City, Missouri to Joseph F. Ringwood and Kathryn Roberts Ringwood. In 1934, the family relocated to the Ringwood family home in Auburn, NY where he attended school and graduated from Holy Family High School in 1950. Dick commuted to LeMoyne College in Syracuse and received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in 1954. He was awarded a scholarship to Cornell Law School where he began his legal studies. Meanwhile, he married the late Margaret "Markey" Foley of Auburn on August 18, 1956 and the couple began their life together during his last year at Cornell, from which he received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1957. He came to Binghamton and started his legal career under the mentorship of Donald Kramer, Darwin Wales and Conrad Stearns. In Binghamton, he was very active in the Trial Bar and Democratic Party politics. In 1967, he formed a law partnership in Endicott with William Scanlon and Vincent Vetrano, which specialized in personal injury law. In 1974, Dick became a solo practitioner on Main Street in Endwell, where he built a very successful practice. In 1991, he was invited to join the Binghamton law firm of Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP (of Counsel) where he remained active until his death. In his youth, Dick was a softball pitcher of some local renown, an avid skier and "suffering" golfer. He, along with his family, were members of Greek Peak and also skied many Eastern and Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts. He was a 52 year member of Binghamton Country Club where he served 3 terms on the Board of Governors and 2 years as its President. He and Markey golfed at numerous courses in the East, Arizona, California and Canada, as well as many trips to their beloved links courses in Ireland. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Markey, on August 2, 2013; a brother, Thomas Ringwood, of Poughkeepsie; a sister, Mary Lou Davies of Auburn; and is survived by a brother, Robert, a Trappist Monk, Argentina. He is survived by 5 children, Catherine Ringwood of Endwell; Thomas Ringwood of Philadelphia; Margaret Burt (Gene) of Webster, NY; Joseph Ringwood of Athens, GA; and James Ringwood (Aruna) of Denver; and a daughter-in-law, Ruth Ringwood of Philadelphia; 5 grandchildren, Brianna (Lane) Schiff, R. Colin Ringwood, Devin Ringwood, all of Philadelphia and Kathryn Burt and Kevin Burt, both of Webster. NY; a brother-in-law, William Foley (Ginger) of Auburn, NY; a sister-in-law, Catherine (Thomas) Lasky, Burr Ridge, IL and several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Mass will be offered at the Church of the Holy Family, 3600 Phyllis Street, Endwell, Tuesday at 1:00 PM. Entombment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Auburn. The family will receive friends at the J. A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton Monday from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to any charitable organization.