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Earl C. Rishel of Water Mill died in his sleep on Sunday, January 29, 2017. He was 89.
Mr. Rishel was born on May 9, 1927, in Mechanicville, to Henry and Mary Rishel. The youngest of four, he was 13 years younger than his next oldest sister. At age 13 he learned to play the trumpet, which became his lifelong passion. He joined the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday and served on the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt as a bugler. Following his World War II service he attended Ithaca College, where he met his future wife, Patricia Squires. They were married in June 1953 and moved to Broadalbin, New York, where the couple raised three children. Mr. Rishel taught music at Broadalbin High School and earned a master’s degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia. In 1967, the family moved to Water Mill. Mr. Rishel became the band and chorus teacher at Southampton High School, where he taught until retirement in 1983.
A gifted musician and trumpeter, Mr. Rishel had been a member of many local musical organizations, including Big Band East, The Sag Harbor Community Band, and The No Doubt World Famous Monday Night Band. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, where he was an elder and sang in the choir. He loved spending time in his music room, practicing and playing duets with friends. He also enjoyed fishing, playing golf and tennis and could often be seen happily mowing the lawn at his home in Water Mill.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pat Rishel; and three children, Deborah Goodale and husband David of Southampton, Jeffrey Rishel and wife Stefania of Yorktown Heights, and Matthew Rishel and wife Deirdre of Water Mill; and five grandchildren, Daniel Goodale, Rachel Harris and husband Gregory, Johanna and Allison Rishel, and Sofia Rishel; two step-grandsons, Alex and Sawyer Boyd; and one great-granddaughter, Oonie Virginia Harris.
Family and friends gathered at Brockett Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 31, from 7 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, February 1, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 2, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, followed by burial with military honors at the Water Mill Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, or the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center.
on Jan 30, 2017