Andrew Allen Richardson

In Loving Memory

Andrew Allen Richardson

4/29/1988 ~ 6/19/2021

Andy Richardson

(33) died unexpectedly on June 19, 2021, from an accidental fall at his home in Chandler, AZ.  He was born in Merriam, KS to Mark and Jill (Spruill) Richardson of Reno, NV on April 29, 1988.

Andy grew up in Petaluma, CA, where he was active in Boy Scouts, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and the Order of the Arrow.  He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ in 2012, with a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering.

He began work immediately after college in Chandler, AZ at Orbital Sciences, now Northrop Grumman, where he was a Principal Engineer.  He worked on the Antares rocket which is used to resupply the International Space Station and most recently on Pegasus (see Spaceflight.com/Pegasus) which had a successful launch for US Space Force last week.

Andy was a licensed pilot and scuba diver.  Along with his driver license, he used to say, “I’m certified on the land, sea and air!”  During his short life he traveled to all seven continents, including Antarctica, as well as the Panama Canal.  He hiked to Everest Base Camp in Nepal and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

He co-hosted the PlayStation Nation podcast for several years and wrote reviews on new video game releases.  He was an accomplished high school ski racer and enjoyed playing board games and Magic the Gathering.

Besides his parents, Andy is survived by his brother, Matthew Richardson of Santa Rosa, CA; his maternal grandmother, Carol (Gerber) Spruill of Brookfield, WI; paternal grandparents, Will and LaVonne (Gadow) Richardson of Redwood City, CA; uncle, Jeff and Barb Spruill of Madison, WI; uncle, Jeff and Penny Richardson of Redwood City, CA; aunt, Karen and Carl Wallstedt of San Diego, CA, and his girlfriend, Kelly Blose of Chandler, AZ.  He is

a

lso survived by many cousins and friends, as well as his parrots, Princess and Rae.  Andy was preceded in death by his grandfather, Norman Spruill.

Andy was a smart, honest, loyal, sincere and caring person.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Celebration of Life gathering will be held at Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort at One South San Marcos Place, Chandler, AZ 85225 on Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 11am. Lunch will be provided.  Casual dress is suggested (shorts and flip flops – Andy Style).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made at:  Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue

www.mickaboo.org

or Redwood Empire Council, BSA,

https://redwoodBSA.org

in memory of Andy.

To Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go

I have so many things to see and do.

You must not tie yourself to me in tears.

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess,

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love each of you have shown

But now it is time I travel on alone.

So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must.

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It is only for a while that we must be apart,

So bless the memories within your heart.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

I will greet you with a smile and say

“Welcome Home!”

Andy lives on in the hearts of those he touched!