Richard Hunt Fessenden

Richard was born in Lakewood to Lawrence Fessenden and Georgiana Hunt Fessenden and was a 1964 graduate of Southwestern Central School. He was elected to the board of the NYS Association of Student Councils and was chosen to be on the staff of their summer leadership workshops for several years at NYS colleges. As a junior in high school, he qualified for the state debate tournament in Albany.

Richard received a BA in political science from SUNY Oswego in 1968, attending on a Regents Scholarship. After college, he joined the United States Army Reserve and served from 1969 to 1975. In 1973, he graduated from the Syracuse University College of Law. He was a member of the Jamestown and New York State Bar Associations, and admitted to practice in New York and the federal practice in the Western District of New York and the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.

After graduation, he was associated with the office of Joseph Gerace, served as a law clerk for the Hon. Joseph Ricotta, and later partnered with Lynn L. Hartley until he was elected Family Court Judge. Later, he was a founding partner in the office of Fessenden and Laumer, and Fessenden, Laumer and DeAngelo.

Richard practiced law for nearly 50 years, with an old country general practice focused on assisting clients with a variety of issues. He also served at various times as Village Attorney for the Village of Falconer, Associate Corporation Council for the City of Jamestown with responsibility for the Jamestown General Hospital, Assistant Public Defender, and council for the Jamestown Housing Authority. He received many awards for his pro bono services.

Outside of practicing law, he helped raise three children, Daniel Paul England, Elizabeth England (Dennis) White, and Andrew Michael (Brittany) Fessenden, who enjoyed 25 years in their home on Lake Street in Lakewood. He also coached youth boys and girls baseball, softball, and hockey, served as president of the Lakewood Rotary Club, soloed an airplane, and scuba dived in more than ten countries, from the Thousand Islands to the Blue Hole. He sailed on Lake Chautauqua, Lake Erie, and in the Virgin Islands, with past memberships of the Chautauqua Lake and Dunkirk Yacht Clubs. He also loved American history, golfing, seeing friends at the Moose Lodge, the Celeron Fish Club, and the American Legion, reading, spending time on the lake, and, of course, the Buffalo Bills, who we hope will finally win the Super Bowl this year in his memory.

Richard is survived by his brother David Lawrence Fessenden, his children, and his grandchildren Avery Justice Fessenden, Lauren England, Leah England, Xavier Easterlin, Caden White, Elana White, and Issac “Iggy” White.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, October 26th from 1-3pm at the American Legion in Lakewood.