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Richard J. Barnikow of Branford passed away April 13 at Connecticut Hospice, Branford, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Rick was born Dec. 31, 1946, in New Haven to Lester and Mildred (Merritt) Barnikow.

He graduated from East Haven High School and served in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany. Upon his return from the Army, he married his high school sweetheart Virginia (Ginny) Gambardella, and they enjoyed 48 wonderful years together. Rick spent most of his career in accounting and management, where he had the opportunity to train and develop numerous people over the years. He was a multi-talented man and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his sons Brian (Maria) Barnikow of Madison and Kevin (Courtney) Barnikow of Branford; his grandchildren Rebecca, Matthew, Chase, and Blake; his siblings twin Robert (Denise) Barnikow of Montrose, Pennsylvania, David (Ruth) Barnikow of Zuni, Virginia, Gayle Lopez of Columbus, Ohio, Lynne Barnikow of Edgecomb, Maine, Barbara (Robert) Dodge of Topsham, Maine, and Elizabeth (Martin) Folsom of Auburn, Maine; and many nieces and nephews.

Rick loved boating, cooking, fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and vacationing with his family in Maine. His greatest joys were cooking Sunday dinners and being with his grandchildren. He was a kind man who always had a smile and a helping hand. All who knew Rick came to love him.

His family would like to give thanks to Dr. Kay Haedicke and the staff at the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center of Guilford for their compassion and outstanding care.

Friends called April 19 at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 N. Main St., Branford. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated April 20 in St. Mary Church, Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405. For an online memorial, visit www.wsclancy.com.