Obituary of Richard A. Averson

Mr. Richard A. “Dick” Averson, age 92, a lifelong area resident, passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, April 26, 2022 at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Born on July 2, 1929, Richard was one of eleven children to the late Pietro and Giovanina (Borachiello) Averson. He was raised and educated first in Herkimer and then in Frankfort where he graduated with the Class of 1947. Richard went on to continue his education from various institutions in Albany, Boston and California, eventually attaining his PhD in Communications. Dick’s career was spent as an educator and he retired from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University as a Professor of Broadcasting and Film. He was also an accomplished author who published several books in the fields of broadcasting and communications. Dick was a proud United States Veteran who served in the US Army and received his honorable discharge in 1958. On April 6, 1974, Dick was blessed to share in the Sacrament of Marriage with the former Celia F. Tuzzolino when the two were wed at St. Mary’s Church in Frankfort by Reverend Alfred A. Lamanna. Together, Celia and Dick shared in a loving and devoted union of over forty-six years, until Celia’s passing on March 12, 2021. Their families take comfort in the fact that the two are now once again reunited in the Kingdom of Heaven. Survivors include his sister, Mary Caiola of Frankfort; his sister-in-law, Mary Sportello of Frankfort; along with many nieces and nephews, with special mention of Robert and Donna Barrett of Frankfort and Maryel and John Wallace of Ilion. Richard was predeceased by his parents; his beloved wife, Celia; his siblings, Elizabeth Barrett, Adeline Polizzi, Margaret Padula, Doris Dangler, Yolanda Yacovelle, Theodore Averson, Francis Averson, Thomas Averson and Louis Averson; along with several in-laws. A Traditional Latin Requiem Mass will be offered at 10:00AM on Monday, May 9, 2022 at St. Thomas More Chapel, 738 Roberts Street at Sunset Avenue, Utica, NY. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frankfort. For those wishing to do so, in lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. Dick’s final wishes were pre-arranged and entrusted to the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road, Town of Frankfort, Ilion, NY (315) 894-8000, Harry and Kevin Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors. Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.eneafamily.com.