Obituary of Richard H. Harper
Piscataway, NJ – Richard Holton Harper, 82, a loving father, husband and friend passed away on February 26, 2023 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Born in Hackensack to the late John Scott and Helen (Holton) Harper, Rick grew up in Bogota, NJ and graduated from Bogota High School. He completed his college degree in Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University while working part-time before enlisting in the United States Army in 1963. He was stationed in San Juan Puerto Rico where he met the love of his life, Aimee Rodriguez. He faithfully served his country and was honorably discharged in 1965. Before settling in Piscataway in 1966 with his bride Aimee, he lived in Roselle Park.
In the early years of Rick’s career, he worked in New York City at Rockefeller Center as an accountant, but until recently, he was self-employed working out of his home. While working he earned his Master’s in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He loved sports, played tennis in high school and college and was a huge fan of the NY Yankees and Indianapolis (Baltimore) Colts. He really loved to keep the family apprised of all sports doings with any school with which any family member was even remotely connected. Rick enjoyed going to Atlantic City, bowling, and could always be found enjoying his sweets. He was known for wanting “just one more sliver” or “evening out” a dessert in a pan, a trait passed on to his children.
Rick was a true family man. He never missed anything his children or grandchildren were doing. When his kids were young he was a coach and was the one “Dance Dad” in the group of moms. Father’s Day and birthdays were a time that he took his kids to amusement parks or other family fun places. As a grandpa he was always in the audience or in the stands cheering on his grandchildren. He was friendly to all and would regularly call friends and family, often the only non-telemarketing message on family answering machines.
Predeceased by his siblings; Jean Belinsky, John Harper and Margie West, Rick leaves behind his loving wife Aimee Harper, and their children; Suzanne Safran and her husband Pete Safran of Doylestown, PA and Rich Harper and his wife Tammy Harper of Loveland, OH. He will be missed by his sister Shirley Baldwin of Toms River, four grandchildren; Joshua, Sierra and Anna Shea Safran and Evan Harper and step-grandson Gregg Almond.
Visitation will take place at Piscataway Funeral Home, 18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 on Monday, March 6, 2023 beginning 10:00am. A catholic prayer service will begin at 11:30am followed by burial at Resurrection Burial Park in Piscataway.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rick’s name sent to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) would be appreciated. Please visit www.PiscatawayFuneralHome.com to send online condolences to the Harper family.