Richard John Cole, 90, of Newtown, died peacefully on June 5, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Birgitta, and his son, Christopher. Richard, or Dick as his friends called him, was born in New York, NY, in 1926. He matriculated at Yale and then, as many young men of the time, entered the service in World War II. At the time, he was the youngest commissioned naval officer and served in the Pacific theater. Later, Dick sailed on the famous USS Midway joining the ship in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a communications officer during the Korean War.
Dick’s postwar adventures took him to Hollywood and later what was called the “Far East,” where he spent months at a time building an import-export business with his own father. In 1960 he met the love of his life, Birgitta Cole, in Miami Beach at the Miss Universe pageant. Birgitta was a contestant, Miss Sweden!
In 1962, he had his first son with Birgitta, named John. John, who became an avid horseman, passed away in 2009. A second son. Christopher, was born in 1966, and lives in Maryland.
Dick later moved to New York and became the President of the womens’-wear division of Manhattan Industries. While in that role, he helped launched the careers of many of the most famous designers of the 1970’s and beyond, including Halston, Perry Ellis, Donna Karan and Tommy Hilfiger.
In later years, he gradually slowed down, moving to Newtown in 2000. He loved the town and its people, and sought to participate in local town policy.
He was beloved and will be missed greatly by his friends and family.
A celebration of his life will be scheduled for this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation to the Brian Silverlieb Animal Shelter in Newtown or the Skin Cancer Foundation (skincancer.org). The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown is serving the family. To leave an online condolence visit www.honanfh.com

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