U.S. Navy veteran worked with civil engineering projects across the region and was active in religious, political and veterans’ organizations for decades
Richard "Dick" Paul Trudell, 78, went peacefully home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday evening, January 22, 2025, in Spartanburg, S.C., following a three-year illness. Dick was born in Burlington, Vt., on February 27, 1946, to Edward and Theresa Trudell of South Burlington, Vt. He attended South Burlington schools and graduated from South Burlington High School in 1964. He played football for SBHS and was named to the 1964 Vermont-New Hampshire Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football team. Dick earned his BS in civil engineering from the University of Vermont in 1969. While at UVM, he was a member of Lambda Iota fraternity and was its president during his senior year. On May 30, 1968, he was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Immediately following his graduation from UVM, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sent to Officers Candidate School, then to Vietnam. He served with the Navy Seabees Construction Battalion in 1970 and 1971 and was promoted from ensign to LTJG. Following his deployment, Dick returned to Vermont and married his college sweetheart, Kathryn "Kay" Mary Rock, on July 3, 1971. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2024. Dick's engineering career began with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He was then employed by Willis Engineering in Williston, Vt., subsequently purchased the firm and founded Trudell Consulting Engineers in Blair Park, Williston, in 1975. Dick was TCE's president and CEO until his retirement in 2012. During his tenure as chief engineer for TCE, Dick and his employees were involved in providing a range of services for projects such as Tafts Corner, Thompson Point, Taft Farms, the Trapp Family Lodge, Smugglers’ Notch and the development of Blair Park, as well as projects in New York and Massachusetts. In addition to Tau Beta Pi, Dick was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association, among others. Shortly after their marriage, the Trudells moved to Winooski, Vt., and lived there for 23 years. Dick served 10 years on Winooski's Design Review Board. They moved to Grand Isle, Vt., in 1994 and lived there for 30 years. After he and his wife retired, they purchased a home in Old Bridge Village, North Fort Myers, Fla., where they spent many happy winters. Throughout their lives, Dick and Kay were involved with many pro-life and political organizations, as well…
U.S. Navy veteran worked with civil engineering projects across the region and was active in religious, political and veterans’ organizations for decades
Richard "Dick" Paul Trudell, 78, went peacefully home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday evening, January 22, 2025, in Spartanburg, S.C., following a three-year illness. Dick was born in Burlington, Vt., on February 27, 1946, to Edward and Theresa Trudell of South Burlington, Vt. He attended South Burlington schools and graduated from South Burlington High School in 1964. He played football for SBHS and was named to the 1964 Vermont-New Hampshire Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football team. Dick earned his BS in civil engineering from the University of Vermont in 1969. While at UVM, he was a member of Lambda Iota fraternity and was its president during his senior year. On May 30, 1968, he was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Immediately following his graduation from UVM, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sent to Officers Candidate School, then to Vietnam. He served with the Navy Seabees Construction Battalion in 1970 and 1971 and was promoted from ensign to LTJG. Following his deployment, Dick returned to Vermont and married his college sweetheart, Kathryn "Kay" Mary Rock, on July 3, 1971. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2024. Dick's engineering career began with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He was then employed by Willis Engineering in Williston, Vt., subsequently purchased the firm and founded Trudell Consulting Engineers in Blair Park, Williston, in 1975. Dick was TCE's president and CEO until his retirement in 2012. During his tenure as chief engineer for TCE, Dick and his employees were involved in providing a range of services for projects such as Tafts Corner, Thompson Point, Taft Farms, the Trapp Family Lodge, Smugglers’ Notch and the development of Blair Park, as well as projects in New York and Massachusetts. In addition to Tau Beta Pi, Dick was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association, among others. Shortly after their marriage, the Trudells moved to Winooski, Vt., and lived there for 23 years. Dick served 10 years on Winooski's Design Review Board. They moved to Grand Isle, Vt., in 1994 and lived there for 30 years. After he and his wife retired, they purchased a home in Old Bridge Village, North Fort Myers, Fla., where they spent many happy winters. Throughout their lives, Dick and Kay were involved with many pro-life and political organizations, as well…