Richard Thomas Schreck, 82, formerly of Washington St., died Saturday (May 5, 2012) at Huntington Living Center in Waterloo.

Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. on Tuesday (May 8), at Coe-Genung Funeral Home in Waterloo. Military honors being performed at 7 p.m. Tuesday (May 8) by members of Warner VanRiper Post 435, American Legion and Waterloo Memorial Post 6433, V.F.W. at the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10a.m. Wednesday (May 9), at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waterloo. Rev. Roy Kiggins, will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Waterloo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 25 Center Street, Waterloo, 13165 and Waterloo Memorial Day Museum, 35 E. Main Street, Waterloo, 13165.

Richard was born April 27, 1930 in Waterloo, the son of the late George L. and Agnes Isabella Cowan Schreck. He graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Music Education before entering the U.S. Army serving principally in the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra. After serving his country he attended Syracuse University for post graduate study in public accounting, graduating in 1963. He would later receive his Masters in Music Education from Ithaca College as well. In addition to touring Europe and the British Isles with the 7ASO, he was also a founding member of the Augusta, GA Symphony Orchestra, and played trombone with many Central NY Jazz groups for over 6 decades.

He owned and operated his own accounting firm in Waterloo for fifty-two years, until his retirement in 2008. He was a member of the National Society of Accountants as well as Who’s Who in America. In 1956, he became a member of the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce for twelve years, and served as its last president.

Additionally, he served on the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, as historian for St. Mary’s Church in Waterloo, as a Waterloo Village trustee for thirteen years, and as co-chairman of the Waterloo Central School Centennial Committee which erected the Arch monument in Lafayette Park in Waterloo. He authored Several books, “Waterloo in 1858”, “The Descendants of Michael and Mary Blind Schreck”; and co-authored “The History and Origin of Memorial Day in Waterloo, New York .

Mr. Schreck co-founded the Waterloo Memorial Day Museum also contributed to the concept for the artist’s design of the official Memorial Day emblem, and co-founded the Waterloo Memorial Day Centennial Committee. As research committee co-chair, he played a major role in obtaining official national recognition for Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day, through congressional legislation and Presidential Proclamation in 1966.