RANDAZZO, RICHARD J. (Age 67)

Of Carlyle Towers, Alexandria, VA died on Monday, April 3, 2006 at Fairfax Hospital. Mr. Randazzo was born July 2, 1938 in Pittsburgh, PA, the second of five boys born to Jim and Dorothy Randazzo.

He joined the Navy as an enlisted man in 1957, one year after high school and one year after that, entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. Upon graduation in 1962, he joined the U.S. Air Force and attended the University of Southern California gaining a Master of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering. He was a pioneer in space reconnaissance activities and served his entire military career in the space/intelligence arenas, retiring as a Colonel in 1986. Subsequent to his military career, he joined an employee-owned company, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

He retired from SAIC as a Corporate Vice President in 1995 and relocated from California to build the retirement home at Colleton River Plantation and pursue his love of the game of golf.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Rita; two daughters, Anne (Gary) Semerjian of Springfield, VA and Karen (Eric) Naroian of Las Vegas, NV. Son, Vincent, predeceased him in 2003. He is also survived by three of four brothers and two grandchildren.

Funeral services with Full Military Honors will be held on Thursday, June 8 at 12:45 p.m. at Fort Myer Chapel. Interment to follow at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Capital Hospice, 9300 Lee Hwy., 5th Floor, Fairfax, VA 22031. Arrangements by DEMAINES.

Published in The Washington Post on 4/5/2006.