Obituary of Richard Frank Tattarelli

Richard (Dick) Tattarelli of Sun City Center, Florida passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 9th, 2023.

Dick was born on August 29, 1935 in Myersdale, PA to Tony and Mary Tattarelli, where he lived until the age of 12. The family then moved to Berlin, PA where his father owned his own business which eventually became a Western Auto Store.

After graduating from Berlin Brothersvalley High School, Dick attended Penn Technical Institute (electronics school) in Pittsburgh. He completed the program and soon received an offer from the National Security Agency (NSA). He started with NSA in May of 1955. The job meant a move to Virginia, so on November 11, 1956 he married the love of his life, Virginia (Ginny) and they remained together for over 67 years living in Virginia, Stuttgart Germany, and Maryland before retiring to Sun City Center.

In keeping with his theme of longevity, he remained with NSA for 38 years. Starting as a Lab Tech, and working his way up through the ranks to a Senior Executive in the area of Research and Development and Communications Security.

Dick served as Chief of Staff for the Engineering Program Office and as Director for major engineering projects, systems, planning and support. His career growth

allowed him to serve in Europe as an NSA representative at the European Command Headquarters (EUCOM) in Stuttgart Germany. After returning from Europe he was assigned as a senior NSA Liaison Officer to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), allowing him to interact at the director level of these two agencies.

Finally as a Senior Cryptologic Executive, he supervised an electronic division of approximately 150 people involved with production of various communications equipment used by all military, civil and leading officials in the government. His final assignment was a Chief of Staff at the group level. He received the NSA Red Carnation Award and in March of 1986 the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. After retiring from NSA, he continued as a consultant for a variety of agencies.

After many years of snow-birding, Dick and Ginny permanently moved to Sun City Center Florida. Dick was very active in the community, volunteering for the Computer Club, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), served in various capacities within Kings Point and the Grantham condo association, and as a member of the SCC Men’s Club. He was a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and Elder, chaired the Nominating Committee, sub-chair of the Worship Committee and was responsible for the Audio/Visual program.

Dick loved playing the drums, as a natural, never professionally trained, he played many semi-professional gigs in the Washington DC area. In his later years he played for both the contemporary and traditional services at St. Andrew.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ginny, daughter Vicki of Sun City Center, and son Tony of Gallatin, TN. Sister Donna Dickinson (Jack) of Bruceton Mills West Virginia.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on October 3, 2023 at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church for video and projection advancements.