Richard Brian Mathews

Family and friends will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00 AM at Saint Joseph's Church Kingston. A livestream of the Mass may be viewed here

Burial will follow at Saint Peter's Cemetery in Rosendale.

Richard Brian Mathews , aged 84, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026. Rich was born in Queens, NY to parents Mary Ellen Dempsey and Peter Mathews. Rich was a long-time resident of Ulster County. He graduated from Kingston High School, attended Iona College, and was a member of the United States Army Reserves.

Rich was a respected business leader and a compassionate community advocate who demonstrated a lifelong dedication to serving the needs of Ulster county residents. After school, he joined Colonial City Carpet Company - the family owned and operated business started by his father Peter in 1965. He remained there for 32 years. Rich had been involved in local government for years serving as Chairman of the Ulster County Development Corporation, Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature from 1986-1991, and Ulster County Commissioner of Jurors.

His commitment to caring for the community was demonstrated by his service as Chairman of the board of The Benedictine Hospital, and as president of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Kingston. He was a proud member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and was active in the St. Joseph's Parish for many years, serving as a lector and on the Parish Council.

Rich's greatest joy in life was his family. Rich and his lovely wife Judy, whom he met at Williams Lake, were married for over 60 years and are blessed with a beautiful family. Son Sean and wife Lucille (Pearl River, NY), daughter Meg Dunneback and her husband Jason (Chicago), daughter MaryKate (Kingston), and son Jamie and wife Patty (Port Chester, NY). His seven grandchildren were his pride and joy – Kiera (Dan Richardson), Peter, Clare, Jack, Thomas, Charlie and Emma.

The oldest of five brothers, Rich was blessed to have a deep and loving relationship with his siblings. Rich is survived by Robert (Mary), Peter (Catherine), Kevin (Mary), Brian (Sigrun) and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Lois Virginia Leahy, whom he loved like a sister.

Rich always said the most important things in life were Faith, Family and Friends and that is evident in the many friendships he and Judy had. An avid sports fan, Rich loved cheering on the Knicks, Giants and Yankees. Rich was a proud Irishman, honored as the Grand Marshall of the Kingston Irish Parade in 1992. Every year, Rich looked forward to the annual Peter B. Mathews Irishman of the Year breakfast, named for his father.

Known as the "human jukebox", Rich will be remembered as the life of the party with his signature rendition of "Sweet Caroline," memorable story telling, classic one-liners, and his stint as a local morning radio host with his signature "Feel Good Fridays".

At the cornerstone of his life was his Catholic faith which set an example for his family. Rich always said "Work Hard, and Be Kind" - a philosophy his children and grandchildren aim to follow every day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rich's memory to People's Place or Hudson Valley Hospice, supporting causes that were meaningful to the Mathews family.