Richard Teemsma
February 8, 1950 ~ June 22, 2024
Born in:
Manhattan, New York
Resided in:
Coram, New York
Richard Michael Teemsma
Beloved husband, father, brother, son, and grandfather. United States Marine (1968-1971), NYPD Bomb Squad Detective and Emergency Services Unit member, retired in 2002 after 20 years of dedicated service.
He always lived his life to his fullest. Will forever be remembered and missed by those who knew and loved him.
“He learned that poem.”
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Richard to: Tunnel to Towers (see link below)
Services
Visitation: Thursday, June 27, 2024 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place
551 Route 25A
MILLER PLACE, NY 11764
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2024-06-27 16:00:00
2024-06-27 07:00:00
RichardTeemsmaVisitation
Visitation
551 Route 25A,MILLER PLACE, NY 11764
Religious Service: Thursday, June 27, 2024 6:00 pm
Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place
551 Route 25A
MILLER PLACE, NY 11764
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America/New_York
2024-06-27 18:00:00
2024-06-27 18:00:00
RichardTeemsmaReligious Service
Religious Service
551 Route 25A,MILLER PLACE, NY 11764
Private Cremation: Thursday, May 1, 2025 12:45 am
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RichardTeemsmaPrivate Cremation
Private Cremation
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Richard Teemsma 's name.
Big Bro
You always called me Jimboy, you were a man of character and an honor to have me be called friend by you,my hear has a space for you my,will never be forgotten
Jimboy
T2T in your memory Big man
T 2T for Rich Teemsma
Fidelis Ad Mortem!!
My sincere condolence’s to the Teemsma family. Was privileged and honored to have spent many years working with Richie in Emergency Service Truck 9. Enjoyed having the Pipe Band play the Marine Corp Hymn as we passed his corner at the Memorial Day parade in East Meadow. Rest well my friend. 🙏🙏🙏
I had the honor of interviewing Rich on my podcast 3 times on my podcast and we formed a great friendship. I’ll miss our conversations and thank Rich for the incredible insight he shared with me over the years. He was a remarkable person and I will miss him a lot.
USMC ~ NYPD ~ DHS Instructor.
I met Richie 20 plus years ago when he was my counterterrorism instructor. Richie was without a doubt “One of the Great Ones”.
“Richie Bombs” dedication his life to his country, the NYPD and all the first responders he instilled the skills and knowledge to survivor.
I love you brother! I will never forget you or the many stories you shared with me. Thank you for being my mentor, my friend, my brother.
Semper Fi Richie Bombs 🇺🇸
I will see you on the other side.
Never Forget
Rest in eternal peace my dear friend! You will be missed! Peace “Mr. Brownie” ( Only you and I know what that means). Love ya Rich!
Big T,
You were like an older brother on the Bomb Squad. You will be missed. Go meet my parents and my brother Steve, say nice things about me and tell them I miss them. Look over us left behind knowing that we will all meet again. Loved you Rich.
Danny
Brother Marine, Brother NYPD, Brother ESS 9, Brother Bomb Squad. You are one of the most honorable men I have ever known. God Bless You. Semper Fi.
Tom Connolly
Even though we only knew you for a short time it was wonderful having you as a friend and neighbor. We will miss our summer get togethers but will always remember our friendship and good times.
Rich, We had the honor of calling you our brother.
Rich was a true Patriot, with love for his family, community and country.
We are thankful we had the privilege of knowing Rich while he was here.
Rest in Peace Dear Rich.
We will always love and miss you.
Skip and Tara.
I am blessed to have had you by my side for 44 years of marriage.
Thank you for being there with me through the very thick and thin moments of our lives together.
Thank you for our children.
Thank you for our grandchildren.
But most of all…. THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU! I love you and I will certainly miss you.
And remember…. ” it’s not a party Rich! XXOO Kim
Rich,
My friend of almost 60-years. We enjoyed many adventures and interesting times from High School to grandparenthood. Most memorable is the summer of 1968 on Parris Island together. I am so glad we returned to P.I. exactly 50-years after we first arrived there and again stood atop the yellow footprints. At the Boat Basin on our return, we agreed guard duty together there was the highlight of recruit training for us. I still do not know how we pulled that off. You are now once again on guard duty but in a much better place. Please save me a spot in your squad for when I report there for duty. See you then.
God Bless and Semper fi,
Mike Murray
Dear Richie,
Growing up down the block in Mineola was a highlight of my childhood. Always watching your tall walk on Andrew’s rd. Seeing you leave for bootcamp, then continuing your beautiful life with Kim and your family. Thanks for being there for me during a very difficult time in my life. God bless you and the family.
With much love
I am still trying to grasp the fact that you’re gone. The tears come easily, but then I also have to laugh as I recall many of the ventures that we shared together in the NYPD.
We have known each other for over 40 years. Although personal responsibilities and schedules have kept us apart, all it took was a phone call and it was like we saw each other yesterday.
You were there for me during the low points in my life, and shared with me the highlights, and I am grateful for that.
Say hello to my dad and Marianne’s dad. You were cut from the same cloth- Marines and family men through and through.
Rest in peace my partner, my friend.
I was a witness to your bravery, your strength and your compassion as a young boy to the honorable man you grew to be. You lived your life on your terms, with dignity, truthfulness, determination, gentleness and held fast to your values. We are only 2 years apart, but I always admired you and looked up to you, even before you got so tall. You always had this confidence about you and who could resist those dimples of yours. The swagger as you walked down the street. That mischievous glint in you eyes, the impish grin on your face and that soft knowing small laugh you would give us. I have so many memories of you running through my mind. Always being there for me, to listen or give a shoulder to lean on. Calling Mom to say I was with you and she would extend my curfew because she knew that I was safe with you. When we were kids, you would scare me and Ellen at bedtime by banging on our bedroom window. Even as a young boy you had this fascination with “bombs” You had put a roll of caps in the furnace and scared Mom when they went off when she was in the basement. The time you put dry ice in the toilet and Mom walked into the bathroom and it was full of the smoke. We than knew where your future was heading to. All I can say is that you are the coolest guy I ever known and everyone knew you as “Bird”. You were a great dancer and taught me how to “feel the music”. How handsome you were in your Marine Corps uniform and how proud I was of you the day you joined the NYPD.and all of the accomplishments you had in your career that is too long to list. Knowing you, you would just brush that off as nothing and say that your greatest accomplishment are Kim, your children and your beautiful grandchildren. They are the ones who gave you the greatest Joy. You never knew how great you really are! You have touched the lives of everyone who as ever met you. If you could only see the outpouring of Love and the great loss everyone is feeling right now. We have lost our best friend. The person that we all inspired to be one day. You were a child model and then grew up to be our role model
You set the bar so high and did it with grace and dignity. Rest well my big brother. You fought a courageous fight, but now it is time to enjoy your heavenly peace. I am sure you walked through those pearly gates with that same swagger and a smile on your face. I know that Mom and Ellen greeted you with open loving arms. Just know that “you done good” Richie! I will always carry you in my heart until we meet again. I was so lucky and proud to have you as my brother. I Love you Bird. Your loving sister
You served as a US Marine, NYPD & NYC Bomb Squad. You made our family so proud with your many accomplishments throughout your career, and your life. Including serving during 9-11.
I will always remember your soft spoken tone, your sense of humor and your story telling. Teemsma’s love to tell a good story and you had plenty!
We love you Uncle Rich ❤️ RIP
Rich was a standup man. Marilyn and I were proud to know him as our neighbor and friend. He was a man of many talents and served his country as a Marine and an officer of the law. His service on 9/11 was heroic and worthy of being emulated by all. We will dearly miss him so. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Kim and Family!
Rich, I was fortunate to have you ask me to ride with you in Midtown South Sector Charlie/ Frank. You taught me the ropes and showed me how to do the job with honor and grace. My condolences to your family. You will be missed by many.
RIP Mr. Teemsma
Best memory…chopping/. BIG SAW down Christmas Tree on MeadowBrook Parkway. I was in get away car, kept circling and kept missing the LIGHT/ SIGN to pull over. Lolol..GREAT TIMES!! Gerri VOLPE knew we never went to a Christmas 🎄 lot!!! Good stuff xoxo
We were so sad to hear about our High School friend Richie. He was one of the Best. RIP our dear friend. Prayers to his family.