Karl Lawrence Reichelt

Capt. (Ret.) Karl Lawrence Reichelt of Manchester peacefully passed away on Monday, May 3, 2021 at St. Francis Hospital surrounded by family.  He was the beloved husband of Pamela Reichelt for 25 years and the son of the late Norman M. Reichelt and Gladys (Roberts) Reichelt.  He was predeceased by his first wife Tanya Parrott Reichelt and by his younger brother James Reichelt.

 Karl was the devoted father of Mark and Kim Reichelt of Wayland, MA, Jon and Laura Reichelt of Manchester, and stepfather of Graig and Ginny Saloom of Philadelphia.  He was also the loving older brother and brother-in-law of Ellen and Don Felley of Florida and Anne and Mietek Duszny of New Hampshire.  He is survived by eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Karl was born in Bellefonte, PA on February 9, 1941.  His family moved to Manchester where he graduated from Manchester High School in 1959.  He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1963, where he earned All-American honors as a member of the pistol team and played quarterback under the legendary Otto Graham.  He went on to earn a MS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Old Dominion University.  While on active duty with the Coast Guard he served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star.  He retired from active duty in 1975 and continued to serve in the Coast Guard Reserve until 1986.

He returned to Manchester where he was partner and CFO of Rovic, Inc., helping the company to grow from a small family business to one of the largest maintenance supply firms in New England.  He retired when the company was sold in 2010.

Karl was an active member of the Manchester Garden Club and served until recently as Secretary of the Senior Center Advisory Board.  He also remained active in Coast Guard alumni projects including serving as coordinator of the Link in the Chain committee for the Class of 2013 and as a member of the Alexander Hamilton Statue project group.  Karl was an avid gardener and enthusiastic UCONN basketball fan.  Karl was a generous and kind person and will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Manchester Garden Club, the Community Child Guidance Clinic in Manchester, or the Coast Guard Alumni Association Fund at www.cgaalumni.org/MCOE.

Calling hours will be from 4pm to 6pm on Friday, May 14 at Manchester Funeral Home, 142 East Center Street.  A burial service and internment will take place in Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

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