Richard Arthur Wien of Lincroft died June 16, 2024, after a courageous six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Nov. 10, 1942, in Sussex to Arthur and Natalie (Beemer) Wien, Richard graduated from Sussex High School and studied electronics circuitry at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He received his A.S. degree in 1962.
Richard was recruited by Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, where he worked in the speakerphone circuitry division. One memorable project involved creating a system of multiple speakerphones that allowed President Lyndon Johnson to conduct business from anywhere in the Oval Office. His division would also install specialized speakerphones for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Richard married Margaret Swenson, his girlfriend since freshman year of high school, June 21, 1964.
After earning his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Monmouth College in 1967, Richard began working for CECOM, Department of the Army, Fort Monmouth, as an electrical engineer. Richard was awarded his M.S. in electrical engineering from New York University in 1970. He retired from Fort Monmouth in January 1999 as chief, Information Security Division, Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate.
In the 1970s, Richard began coaching youth soccer teams, many that included his son. He was the founding president of Lincroft Soccer Club. His teams won several titles, playing in tournaments across the East Coast, and had memorable games at Giants Stadium and Brendan Byrne Arena. His love of soccer inspired him to become a referee. He served as a soccer referee at high school and collegiate levels and later began refereeing high school women’s lacrosse games, too. Over a 40-year span, he refereed over 3,000 matches. Some career recognitions included serving as president of the Shore Soccer Officials Association, the NJ Soccer Officials Association and the NJ Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association.
Richard always planned, planted and tended a garden at their home in Lincroft. Gardening was an interest he had since his childhood days working on farms (including his grandfather’s farm) near his home in Colesville. He also enjoyed genealogy and tracing his family tree.
He is survived by his wife Margaret; his daughter Diana Kaplan (husband Brian) of Waterford, Virginia; his son Gary Wien (wife Sherry) of Belmar; two granddaughters, Hannah Kaplan and Erin Kaplan of Waterford, Virginia; two sisters-in-law, Sharon Wien of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Ruth Perry of Branchville; and numerous loved nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother William Wien, who passed away in 2022.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13 at the United Methodist Church, Red Bank, with a repast following in the Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org) or the United Methodist Church, 247 Broad St., Red Bank, NJ 07701.
Arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank.
The article originally appeared in the June 27 – July 3, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
