MUNROE FALLS - Richard James Vasquez, 68, passed away peacefully on August 1st, 2026 at his home in Munroe Falls, Ohio from Leukemia.

Richard was born on October 11, 1957 at the U.S. Army Garrison in La Rochelle, France to Richard and Rosemarie Vasquez.

Richard grew up in Sacramento, CA before moving to Munroe Falls as a young adult, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Richard was a man of many careers, with over 30 years of federal employment through the Army Core of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service. Richard began his career at Whiskytown Lake National Recreation Area and Yosemite National Park, with the majority of his career being at Cuyahoga Valley National Park where he worked for over 25 years as a park ranger and law enforcement officer. In addition to his role as a park ranger, Richard had multiple other careers as a U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter, a Park Ranger Academy Instructor, a Police Dog Trainer, a Paramedic, an Adjunct Professor of Emergency Management and Public Safety at Kent State University and Mount Vernon Nazarene University, a Lieutenant on the Munroe Falls Fire Department, a Department of Defense contractor, a TSA Screener for multiple Cleveland Sports teams, and a 3-year stint as a foreman for the GM Lordstown plant.

Richard’s diverse work took him to National Parks across America, and Army bases around the world, as well as special duty assignments such as the cross-country ski course at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, disaster response in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a special Federal Law Enforcement Agent Army Ranger School course, serving on a team to develop National Park Service counter-terrorism policies, and being selected as the only Park Ranger to participate in a State Department anti-poaching mission to Tanzania. Throughout his 30+ year career in public safety and emergency management, Richard personally saved seven people’s lives and impacted countless others.

In addition to his diverse careers, Richard served over 24 years in the Ohio State Defense Forces. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and would eventually serve as the commander of the Ohio Military Reserve. Richard went on to serve as the inaugural Ohio State Defense Force Commander and attained the rank of Brigadier General, overseeing the combined State Defense Forces including the Ohio Military Reserve, the Ohio Naval Militia, and the Ohio Cyber Reserve. Under BG Vasquez’s command, the Ohio State Defense Forces saw their largest activation since World War II during the COVID-19 Pandemic as they provided medical and logistical support alongside National Guard units and other state agencies. Richard’s awards include The Ohio Distinguished Service Medal, The Ohio Commendation Medal, and the Honorable Order of St. Martin.

Outside of work Richard volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America for over 20 years overseeing over a dozen Eagle Scout projects. He loved being outdoors where he grew a vegetable garden and tended his apple orchard. Richard enjoyed stamp collecting, genealogy, home improvement projects, and listening to Howie Chizek on the Talk of Akron. Richard was a faithful attendee at Akron First Assembly of God where he met and married his wife, and raised his kids. While attending AFA, Richard went on multiple missions trips to South America.

Those who knew Richard well will remember how he would answer many questions by saying “Interestingly enough…...” before launching into a monologue.

He is survived by his mother Rosemarie; his wife of 40 years Patricia Vasquez; his children Kathryn Vasquez Mast (Joshua), Christopher Vasquez (Hannah), Sarah Vasquez, and Gabbi S. (Sús); his sister Laura (Richard) Lavaee, and his cherished grandchildren, Felicity, Gideon, and Isabel Vasquez. He is preceded in death by his father Richard Vasquez and his sister Lynn Vasquez.

Calling hours will be held at Akron First Assembly, 1175 W. Market Street, Akron, 44313, on Thursday August 6th from 4:00-7:00 PM. A funeral service with military honors for Richard will be held at Akron First Assembly on Friday August 7th at 10:00 AM officiated by Chaplain Steve Stephanoff. A private family internment will occur at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Richard can join the National Marrow Donor Registry (https://www.nmdp.org/get-involved/join-the-registry) or donations can be made in Richard’s memory to Akron First Assembly to support their mission’s program (www.akronfirstag.com/giving)