Remembering Ian Richards: Support His Loved Ones

In Loving Memory of Ian Richards

Shared with love on behalf of the Richards Family

With the heaviest of hearts, we share the sudden passing of our beloved Ian on Saturday, June 21st, 2025. Ian was a devoted fiancé, a treasured son and brother, and the dearest friend to many. His absence leaves a silence we cannot comprehend.

There was no one like Ian.

He had the gentlest soul: kind, intuitive, and full of deep empathy. A true lover of words, language, and poetry, Ian often knew just what to say or how to love others through quiet, thoughtful acts of kindness. He noticed the smallest details in people, the ones often left unseen, and responded in ways that made others feel deeply known and cared for. He met people where they were, saw their goodness and potential, and lifted them simply by being himself.

Ian was the joy of his family. He was a beloved son to Paul and Patty, longtime parishioners of St. Theresa’s Parish in Briarcliff Manor, NY. He was the younger brother of Kevin Richards, Director of Religious Education at St. Theresa’s, and the older brother of Maryrose Richards. All three siblings were graduates of St. Theresa’s Parish School. Ian went on to attend the Montfort Academy for high school, pursued his undergraduate studies at St. Thomas More College and The Erasmus Institute in New Hampshire, and later earned his graduate degree in literature from the University of Dallas.

Ian is survived by them, as well as by his beloved fiancée, Leah.

Ian and Leah shared a rare love full of joy, mutual understanding, and a shared artist’s heart. Ian loved Leah with every part of his heart, and their relationship brought out the very best in him.

Ian loved singing, laughing, and was always ready to dance—a contagious Richards family trait that he carried with ease and interpretive flair. He was endlessly curious and creative: a poet, musician, artist, fisherman, bread maker, and avid craftsman. He had a passion for the culinary world, winemaking, carpentry, and travel. He brought silliness and cleverness, with the mischief of a leprechaun, always balanced by humility, thoughtfulness, and care.

Our hearts are broken, and we are struggling to imagine life without him.

Please feel free to share your memories of Ian, stories, small moments, and reflections. Ian’s life was a gift, and remembering him together helps carry that gift forward.

We trust that he now rests in eternal peace, surrounded by the love of God. He will be missed forever and carried in the hearts of all who love him.

On behalf of the Richards family, please keep Ian, Leah, his family and all who loved him in your prayers. As they mourn this immense loss, they are also facing unexpected financial costs related to laying Ian to rest. If you are able to give, your generosity will go directly to Ian’s family and will mean more than words can express.

Thank you very much.