To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Obituary
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of my Dear husband and Best Friend, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather Enrico (Rick) Pasquini who was born on July 29, 1940 and passed away on July 17, 2026 in his home surrounded by Family and friends.
Rick was born in Rome Italy during World War II and was adopted at 7 days old by his Mother Amasia and Marco (Marcuch). He grew up poor, but had a enormous respect for his Family. They lived in a 2 room apartment in Piedimonte San Germano, on the foot of a mountain from where you could see the Abbey of Monte Cassino and his town was bombed because it was a strategic point during the war. He remembers having to live in caves for weeks without food or comfort.
At age 18 he emigrated to the US, as his birth mother had gotten in touch with him and told him he could make a better life for himself. He went because he thought he could then support his Family in Italy, as his mother had 5 more children of her own.
He arrived without speaking any English or an education and had to fight to be able to stay in touch with his Family in Italy.
He was a self made man and learned the trade of carpenter and building by watching people and asking questions when he delivered lumber from a lumbar yard, where he worked.
He met his First wife Barbara at a Community Dance and had 2 children, Patricia and Marc. They lived in Northern New Jersey and after several jobs he started his own business in Construction, in Northern New Jersey. The first trip back to Italy with Barbara and Marc and Tricia was after he had been in the US for 11 years.
After his Divorce from Barbara, he met his second wife Suzanne on a club ski trip to Vermont and after they got married, he moved his business to the Princeton, NJ area.
He worked hard until he was 65 and then built his dream house in Fairfield, VA, where he lived until his death on 7/17 after a hospital stay of 7 days and 5 days with Hospice care at home.
His Family meant a lot to him, both in Italy and in the US. Two grand kids were babies when he met Suzanne, one was 1.5 years old and the 4th one was not born yet, so we have so many great memories of camping trips, sleep overs and making pizza's and cookies together.
There were also multiple trips to Italy and the Netherlands where Suzanne is from.
Rick developed a passion for cooking Italian Food, because his Mother in Italy was a great example for him. Hardly any recipes were written down, he cooked by memory and feeling. He loved to share meals with Family, Friends, neighbors and even strangers if he found out they were poor. One of Suzanne's co-workers described him as follows: " a man of great enthusiasm for life, deep love for those he adopted as friends and family and a believer that community happens when we eat and drink together."
Rick did not know a stranger, he connected with people everywhere he went, whether it was in grocery stores, or while traveling. One time he invited a couple on a flight to Italy to come to the wedding he was on his way to attend.
He made friends for life from previous jobs and new friends when he was on vacation, e.g. to Hilton Head and Cancun, Mexico.
Both his kids, Tricia and Marc, inherited his Italian spirit and love for cooking.
Rick will be deeply missed, but the memories will stay and be there for everyone to remember.
We will be looking forward to celebrate his life and legacy with Family, Friends neighbors, past co-workers, etc.
Contributions with stories, memories, music and pictures will be appreciated, to remember the life of Enrico, Rick, Pasquini.
More details about the Celebration of Life on 9/19 will be shared on this website.
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Celbration of Life for Rick will be on Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 p.m. The celebration will take place at Wade's Mill in Raphine, Virginia. See the detailed infromatio. below:
Timeline
Gallery
Memory wall
Family tree
Favorites
Service
Donate
Some suggestions are:
-Connections Plus, the Hospice Company that took care of Rick in his final days,
-The SPCA
-World Central Kitchen
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