Richard R. Rawlins, son of the late Rufus and Beatrice Newsome Rawlins, passed away on Saturday January 3, 2015 at the St. Raphael’s Campus of the Yale New Haven Hospital.
An Episcopalian all his life, Richard was a parishioner of St. Luke Episcopal Church where he was a choirboy in his youth and became the Church Treasurer several years later. He attended local schools, graduating from James Hillhouse High School in 1947. During his days at Hillhouse, Richard was dubbed the “Secret Weapon” while a player of its basketball team. This team captured the Championship of the New England High School Tournament in 1946. At the time, this was the biggest high school basketball event which was held in Boston, MA. Their picture is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
He furthered his education at Quinnipiac College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1952. After graduation, Richard’s first employment was with the Old Capitol Market, located on Dixwell Ave., where he handled the market’s financial activities for many years. In 1969 when he became a Certified Public Accountant where he held several positions, some in private accounting firms and he also worked for the State of Connecticut for a time. Richard became employed in the Comptroller’s Office of the City of New Haven, as an Accountant, III in 1978. However, because of outstanding performance, he quickly became an Accountant IV and in no time after this promotion, he was made Chief Auditor of the Comptroller’s Office; a position he held when he retired after twenty years of service in 1998. Although gainfully employed, he established and maintained an Accountant Office for many years, until he decided to fully retire, closing his office in 2009.
He was a member of the Connecticut Professional Accountants since 1960 and joined the East Rock Lodge IBPOE of W in 1962. As an active member of this organization, he held positions in the Grand Lodge IBPOE of W as the Grand Auditor in 1984 and Chairman of Grand Auditors in 1988 for the New England States and the Eastern Canada Association of Elk Lodges, Treasurer in 1978; Connecticut Past Grand Exalted Rulers Treasurer, Connecticut Brigade Antlered Guard Department Deputy Commander, East Rock Lodge #141 on New Haven: Exalted Ruler, Secretary, Treasurer, Past Grand Exalted Ruler and Major General Antlered Guard Department. Richard was also a member of the Antillean Friendly Association.
He leaves to morn his loss; one son, Raymond (Denise) Rawlins of Laurel, MD; two daughters, Rev. Rhonda Rawlins-Stewart of Hamden, Joy (Rigby) Conyers of New Haven; one sister, the Rev. Agnes R. Johnson, Deacon of Hamden; Grandchildren, Jenita (Jeff) Pellum of High Point, NC; Shardae Rawlins of Laurel, MD, Rizhe, Connie, and Rigby Conyers of New Haven; his longtime Companion, Barbara Hopkins and children, Michelle (Friday) Osula, Valarie, Lisa, Ramona, Brian and Joseph Hopkins of New Haven and a host of other relatives and friends. Besides his parents, Richard was predeceased by his son, Robert, his brother, Edward (who died at sea while serving his country in 1944), and his sister Millicent R. Brown.
A celebration of his life will take place Friday, January 9, 2015 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 111 Whalley Avenue; New Haven, CT 06511 with visitation, Friday at the church from 10 – 11:00 AM. Friends may also call at the church on Thursday, January 8, 2015 from 6 – 9:00 PM. Interment will take place in Hamden Plains Cemetery, Hamden, CT. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services; 1287 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort to the Rawlins family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com.
