Richard 'Dick' Broad Jr.

NEWPORT NEWS - Richard 'Dick' Broad Jr., age 85, died Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007, at Sentara Williamsburg Hospital. He was a long-time native of Hampton and Newport News. Mr. Broad was born in Hampton on Oct. 1, 1921. He was the son of the late Richard Broad and late Hazel May Congdon Broad. He graduated from Newport News High School in 1938. Mr. Broad was with Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company from 1938 to 1986, beginning in the Apprentice School. He took a leave of absence from December 1946 to June 1950 to complete his BS in Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan and earned a MS in Marine Engineering in 1954. In 1952 he was selected to attend Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology's one-year course in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He worked with the Steam Engineering, Cost Engineering, Atomic Power, Quality Inspection Engineering and Nuclear Engineering Operations Departments at NNS and was Vice President of Engineering--Nuclear and Nonnuclear Operations when he retired in 1986. He worked with cargo vessels, submarines, Essex class aircraft carriers and nuclear aircraft carriers, his last project being the on-time completion of the Aircraft Carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Mr. Broad was active in the Engineer's Club of the Virginia Peninsula and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, to which he was elected a Life Fellow. He was elected Engineer of the Year for the Virginia Peninsula by the Society of Professional Engineers for 1978-79. In the fall of 2005, he received the University of Michigan Alumni Society Award for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He was active in sailing and cruising for many years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Janet H. Broad, his brother, Douglas C. Broad, his stepfather, S. S. Bortner, and step-sister, Shirley B. Boyce. He is survived by his fiancée, Shirley H. Breighner, his five children, Jennifer B. Harvey of San Antonio, Texas, Deborah Mae Broad of Hawley, Minn., Richard Broad III, of Windsor, Va., David W. Broad, of Morrisville, N.C., Janis B. Huckabee of Houston, Texas, and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Dame Broad, and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Peninsula Funeral Home on Monday, Aug. 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A graveside service and burial will be held at Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 21. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Alzheimer's Association-Hampton Chapter, 20 Executive Center, Norfolk, VA 23502, or to a favorite charity of your choice. Following the service, the family will be at the home of Mrs. Douglas C. Broad. Arrangements by Peninsula Funeral Home.

Published in the Daily Press on 8/19/2007.
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