Richard (Ric) Dennis DeTroia

Richard (Ric) Dennis DeTroia, of Clinton, SC, peacefully passed away at home with his wife by his side on November 27, 2024 at the age of 72 after fighting a courageous and fearless battle with cancer.

Ric was born December 18, 1951, in Providence, Rhode Island and was the son of the late Alfred J. DeTroia and Catherine D. DeTroia. Ric graduated from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School in 1970 and the University of South Carolina Upstate Campus in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He spent many years working for various manufacturing companies before retiring in 2023 from South Carolina Department of Corrections working within their Prison Industries Division. Ric was Roman Catholic.

Ric loved his family, loved to cook, loved a good road trip, loved to go on cruises, and loved to give everyone a good laugh. Ric also loved New England Patriots football, a good cowboy movie, definitely loved Jimmy Buffett music, his beloved island home in Jamestown, RI and most of all his wife. He had a wonderful smile and beautiful brown eyes. The simple things in life gave him great pleasure. 

Ric is survived by his wife of 37 years, Deborah S. DeTroia of the home; his brothers Alfred J. DeTroia, Jr. of Laughlin, NV, Christopher DeTroia (Silkie) of Palm Bay, FL; his sisters Cynthia DeTroia of East Greenwich, RI, and Kathryn DeTroia of Coeur d’Alene, ID; Brother-In-Law Michael Shepherd (Karen) of Middletown, RI; his nephews Dylan Saccoccio of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Dale Shepherd (Jennifer) of Phoenix, AZ, and Adam Shepherd (Allan Wernik) of Portsmouth, RI; his nieces Ashley Herbkersman (Jason} of Palm Bay, FL, Taylor DeTroia of Austin TX , Samatha DeTroia of Daytona, FL, and Rebecca S. Wakefield (Ian) of Middletown, RI; his great nephew Alexander Herbkerbsman and great niece Genevieve Herbkerbsman of Palm Bay, FL great nephew Isaiah DeTroia Byrd of Austin, TX and great nephew Nicholas A. Shepherd of Bonney Lake, WA. Ric is also survived by his extended family of nephew Lee Eunice (Tina), nieces Jessie Clyburn (Robert) and Dee Dee Harper all of the Columbia area; numerous beloved cousins as well as his best friend Kerry Sheehan (Wendy Waller) of Jamestown, RI. Ric has many other beloved family members belonging to his extended and blended family. He will also be missed by the family dog, Jax.

Ric was predeceased by his parents as well as his brother Stephen M. DeTroia and his mother-in-law, Joyce Frady Garren, with whom he was very close.

The family would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation for the care provided by Prisma Cancer Institute; Newberry County Hospital; Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital; VIA Hospice (Hospice of Laurens County) especially Sondrea and Kerri.

Rest easy Ric. To paraphrase a few Jimmy Buffet songs, hopefully the coast is clear at that particular harbor when you get back to the island and maybe just maybe come Monday everything will be okay. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to VIA Hospice, PO Box 178, Clinton, SC 29325; Laurens County Cancer Society, PO Box 6, Clinton, SC 29325; Jamestown Fire Department, 50 Narragansett Avenue, Attn: Treasurer, Jamestown, RI 02835; to benefit the annual Rocket ‘hogs fireworks display in Jamestown, memorials can be made to the Town of Jamestown, Fireworks Fund (memo line), 93 Narragansett Avenue, Jamestown, RI 02835.

A Memorial Services will be held at a later date in Jamestown, RI.

Gray Funeral Home of Clinton is assisting the Detroia family with services.