Richard C. von Schilgen

Berlin – Richard C. von Schilgen of Berlin, NY, passed away after a brief illness on Thursday, March 24, 2011, at the Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. Born on October 14, 1953, in New Rochelle, NY, he spent much of his childhood in Bronxville, NY. His parents, Anne and Robert von Schilgen, moved their family home to Petersburgh, NY, when he was fifteen years old.
Richard attended Berlin Central High School from 1969 to 1972 and earned an Associate’s Degree from SUNY Cobleskill in 1974.  He met Martha Eaton while attending SUNY Cobleskill, and they were married in 1974.  After college, he returned to Berlin and worked for several logging and lumber businesses, including Berlin Lumber and Paulson Wood Products. He then founded his own landscaping and contracting business, House and Yard LLC, which he ran until his death.
Richard deeply loved the outdoors and was an avid sportsman, enjoying trout fishing, ice fishing, grouse and deer hunting. He was also a skilled craftsman and gardener. An active member of his community, he donated a lot of time and effort to improving Berlin. He was elected a member of the Berlin Town Council in 2009.
Richard is pre-deceased by his father, Robert. He is survived by his mother, Anne von Schilgen, his brothers, Christopher, Robert and Frederick von Schilgen, his sister, Elizabeth Becker, his son, Peter von Schilgen, his daughter, Betsy Levy, his granddaughters, Basya and Channah Levy, and his friend, Cheryl Thibodeau.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, Armsby Road, in Petersburgh on Friday, April 1, at 7 pm with visiting hours from 4 to 7 pm. Donations in memory of Richard C. von Schilgen may be made to the Ruffed Grouse Society, 451 McCormick Road, Coraopolis, PA, 15108.