Obituary of Richard Hepperle

Richard Kurt Hepperle, 61, of North Bergen, passed away on May 20, 2024. Born on September 12, 1962, Richard was the cherished son of Gorda and Ferdinand Hepperle. Richard attended North Bergen High School before pursuing his passion for engineering at Steven’s Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. He built a distinguished career as a software developer, contributing his expertise to several prominent companies, including Bendix Flight Systems Division, Sanford C. Bernstein, Compaq Computer, Unilever, Standard & Poor’s, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Credit Suisse, and AT&T. One of his notable achievements was his work on the software flight systems of the SR71 Blackbird. A man of diverse interests, Richard was passionate about electronics, photography, travel, family genealogy, and making sushi. He was an adventurous soul who enjoyed paragliding and skiing. Richard was also a dedicated fan of Star Trek. His life was profoundly affected by the events of September 11, 2001, having been near the World Trade Center on that tragic day. Richard is survived by his loving siblings, brother Robert Hepperle (Janice), sister Diane Bond (Stephen), and sister Lisa Lyons (Robert). He will also be dearly missed by his nieces and nephews: Alison BondBaron (Rachel), Alan Bond (Robert), Jamie Gullion (Adam), Clark Lyons, and Juniper Lyons (Liza) and great nephew Thatcher Gullion. Additionally, he is remembered fondly by his former fiancée, Sarah Stedman. Richard was predeceased by his parents, Ferdinand and Gorda Hepperle. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1st from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Konopka Funeral Home in North Bergen, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The American Heart Association in Richard’s honor. Richard’s innovative spirit, love for adventure, and dedication to his family and friends will be remembered by all who knew him.