Richard Lee Kyllonen, age 55 years, of Frenchtown, NJ, died on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ after a brief illness.

Born in Newark, NJ, son of Carol Kimball Miller of Frenchtown, NJ, and Leo Kyllonen, Jr. of Flemington, NJ, Rich spent his early years in Union, NJ, before moving to Clinton, NJ, in sixth grade. He would later live in East Stroudsburg, PA, and Middlesex, NJ, prior to moving to Frenchtown.

A 1981 graduate of North Hunterdon Regional High School, he went on to attend and graduate from Heidelberg University in 1985.

Known for his extreme athleticism, Rich played soccer and baseball in high school, and also wrestled. He was Heidelberg’s soccer captain during his junior and senior years and was also named “Most Valuable Player” and “Rookie of the Year” in 1983. In 1985, he was named to the “All Academic Soccer Team” by the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association.

High school and college were amazing years for Rich, and he forged many long lasting relationships that stood the test of time and distance. He even ran a facebook page titled, “You know your from North Hunterdon High School…” and was involved in the class reunion committees at both North Hunterdon and Heidelberg.

Extremely intelligent, Rich was a computer analyst for many years at Kraft Foods, Parsippany, NJ.

Quick witted, he was known to be able to light up any room with his sense of humor, as well as inspire people with his writing. His writings, usually a satire based on current events and life in general, reminded people about the realism sometimes forgotten in the world.

Athletic, witty, sarcastic and caring, Rich will most be remembered for being a Dad to his adored daughters, Alexandra and Haley. They were the loves of his life and he did anything he needed to to make his girls smile; from a Hannah Montana concert where he would learn all the lyrics to be, “The Coolest Dad” there, to cheering on them at their athletic games, he was just always so proud of, “his girls.”

In addition to his parents, and two daughters, surviving are his sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Rob Burger; a nephew, Christopher Burger; two step-brothers, Reinhard Kopp and Matt Peters; a step-sister, Cindy Ransom; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Richard will lie in repose on Sunday, January 13, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Life celebration services officiated by Certified Celebrant D. J. Wright will follow at 1:00 p.m. and all are invited to help celebrate Richard’s life and legacy.

Burial in the family plot will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Halstead Street, Clinton, NJ.

Please visit Richard’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, contribution’s in Rich’s honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.