Richard Bibra

Richard Bibra born 5/11/1933 to Harry and Katherine Bibra and raised in Brooklyn, New York till age 6 when they moved to Queens.

He is preceded in death in 2009 by Nancy, his first wife of 49 years and Maxine in 2020 his second wife of five years.

He attended a school for deaf students but played baseball with local kids. An operation before college partially repaired his hearing in one ear.

He graduated high school from Andrew Jackson High School in Queen County. He then graduated in 1951 from City College of New York with BA in Business Management.

He worked nine years at Dictaphone who made hearing aids, burglar/fire alarms.  Then he worked nine years at Airco who made machines for manufacturing tools for lathes and supplied the gases: oxygen, nitrogen, helium, argon, etc.

Then he worked 3.5 years at General Cable Company who made cables for electric and telephone utilities.

He worked 14 years at Stone & Webster, a business consulting firm doing acquisitions, investments, analysis, and divestments.

He worked ten years at United Resources where he personally built an analytical department saving the firm from hiring consultants.

He occasionally told stories of his business travels to places like Saudi Arabia, Panama, Japan, Greece, Dubai, Germany, and England.

Upon retirement in 1996 he and Nancy visited Richard’s brother Harry and his wife Margaret in NM. They so enjoyed it they also moved here.  

Richard’s hobby was investing in the stock market and he did quite well especially when he acquired a computer and could daily check investments.

He and Nancy enjoyed dancing and vacationing at resorts and on cruises around the world. 

With moving to NM, he and Nancy also enjoyed having poodles, 4 toy poodles and a miniature poodle. They were active bowlers since 1996 at Ten Pins and More in Rio Rancho.  

He and Maxine enjoyed road trips to visit her family and Nancy’s in Florida and other places like Disney World. They especially enjoyed their homelife and the local eateries.  

With Maxine’s love for God and His Word, she and Richard were active church goers. They attended Sage Brush Church. Then they attended First Baptist Church Westside Albuquerque’s Sunday School and morning services and the Rio Rancho Word of Life Baptist’s Saturday night services and dinners. With growing closer to Pastor Haney and his other Christians friends, Richard was also drawing closer to God.

Even with his last days being so difficult he still said, “God has been very good to me. I am thankful for all HE has done and Jesus being my Savior.”

With that said, God soon sent HIS angels to escort him home to heaven on 9/13/2021 Like the song "I'll Fly Away:" says, “One bright morning, when this life was over,” Richard flew “away to the land where life shall never end.” 

Many have fond memories including Nancy’s nieces, Maria DiVirgilio and Carol Ann Gordon, step-daughter, Teri Croxdale, and friends: Lorenzo and Frances Rico, Chris Fischer, Rita Hubb, Ed Casteorena, Kevin Haney, Auttem Foglia, Natasha Morris, and the 2 Plus 2 bowling league at Ten Pins and More in Rio Rancho.