Minster, Richard Wells

Richard Wells Minster of Pittsford, New York, passed away of natural causes on the morning of January 7, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla, and his children Kimberly, Ingrid and Christopher. He was 82. He was predeceased by his parents, Dwight and Olive, and his brothers Jack and Kenneth.

Richard was born in Scottsville, New York. Apart from a brief sojourn to Michigan and southern California, he lived in Rochester his entire life.

Richard grew up on a farm, and throughout his journey through life he remained a farm boy at heart. He would spend hours on his lawn tractor, mowing the lawn or pulling firewood around on a wagon. He raised chickens and rabbits at one time, and took up beekeeping as a hobby, producing some very fine honey that he and his family enjoyed. For years he would go up to a small woods on his property and cut firewood for his family home.

Richard was a fixture in the Rochester business community for many years. As a businessman, he was proudest of the fact that he created jobs for people in Rochester.  

He loved his family and travel and embraced life to the fullest. His fondest memories were of family trips to places like Hong Kong, Portugal and New Zealand. He was a keen euchre player who excelled in disrupting other people’s loners. He greatly enjoyed reading and was often to be found with a good book in hand. Those closest to him appreciated his keen wit, sense of humor and generous nature. He made excellent milkshakes.

Richard loved animals, and kept a series of spoiled dogs and cats throughout his life. He felt that these pets contributed greatly to the quality of his life.

Those who knew him remember his inimitable sense of humor. It was a rare situation in life when he could not find something to laugh at. In the final decade of his life, as he endured several bouts with leukemia, his sense of humor helped carry him through the more difficult times and contributed to him beating the odds more than once.

He was greatly involved in local charities including the Seneca Park Zoo and the Genesee Country Village and Museum. Donations in Richard’s memory can be made to the Genesee Country Village and Museum: https://www.gcv.org/

“Friends and well-wishers are invited to a celebration of Richard’s wonderful life on Friday, July 28 at 11:00 AM at the Genesee Country Village and Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Rd, Mumford, NY.