Richard Emil Lefebvre, Sr., recently of Groton, CT; and formerly of Arcadia, FL; Lebanon, CT; West Chester, PA; and Inver Grove Heights, MN; passed peacefully after a short illness on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the age of 95.

Husband, father, Pepere, Gran Pepere, patriot, athlete, coach, and sportsman, Richard was known by friends and family as Dad, Pep, Rich, Dick and Dick El Face. He was a proud, yet humble Marine and Korean War veteran. Richard joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946 and served five years. He was deployed to China and saw combat on the Korean Peninsula, including in the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant, receiving the WWII Victory, China Service, CC Medal, Korean Service Medal with 3 stars and Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) for his service. While in the Marines, Dick was the fastest runner in the 2nd Marine Division and was considered a “scrappy” boxer. His unit also participated in the filming of “Sands of Iwo Jima” in 1950 as extras.

Born in Webster, MA on November 8,1928; Richard lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Florida. He spent a lifetime enjoying ice hockey, soccer, softball, horseshoes, golf, tennis, fishing, dancing and spending time with his beloved sandhill cranes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Yvonne (nee Noel) and William Lefebvre of Old Saybrook, CT and siblings, William Patrick (Pat) Lefebvre of Webster, MA and Lorraine (Lorrie) Gardner of Lyme, CT.

After his service with the Marines, Richard worked in the early days of Information Technology for several private corporations in the 1950s and 60s including IBM, Honeywell and Control Data Corporation. He ended his IT career as a data center technician with the Veterans Administration in Philadelphia, PA, and retired in the late 1980’s.

Dick El Face was an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer supporting ice hockey clubs in Inver Grove Heights and West Chester. He canvassed for an indoor facility for the IGH hockey club and was a founding member of the West Chester Henderson Ice Hockey Club, serving early on as a board member and coach. He also coached the Westtown Quakers and Valley Forge Colonials ice hockey programs for many years in the 1980s.

Married thrice, Richard survived each of his spouses, Pauline (nee Fournier) of North Franklin, CT; Lavonne (nee Dean) of Luverne, MN; and Lorraine Woodward of Lebanon, CT.

A father of five, Richard is survived by Denise Day of Bradenton, FL; Renee Nelson of Rockwood, TN; Richard Lefebvre, Jr. of North Franklin, CT; Michele Lefebvre of Bradenton, FL; and Jon Pierre (JP) Lefebvre of Wayne, PA. Pep is also survived by his twelve grandchildren - Cherie, Ricky, Cathy, Danny, Andrew, Kristy, Eric, Steph, Joey, Christian, Will, and Cate and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a future date. Anyone interested in attending can contact JP at jonpierrelefebvre@gmail.com.