Richard John Cholewiak

Richard John Cholewiak, age 76, passed away at his home in Troy, Michigan. Born on July 18, 1949, Richard was raised in the Detroit metropolitan area, where he developed the curiosity, determination, and independence that would define his life. The son of Stella and Walter Cholewiak and brother of Roger, Richard (Ric) was a self-motivated young man who enjoyed solving problems and being self-sufficient. After graduating from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods in 1967, he attended Wayne State University while proudly serving his country as a member of the Military Police in the Army Reserve. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant, starting his career at Plante and Moran and launching a distinguished tenure in finance that spanned more than four decades. He ultimately retired as Senior Vice President and Controller for Huntington Technology Finance where he was respected for his professionalism, integrity, expertise and dedication. Outside of his career, Richard found joy in food (particularly appreciating his Polish heritage), working in his yard (following in his father’s footsteps!), and taking care of others. Above all, he cherished his family. He was kind, generous, and attentive to detail. Richard was immensely proud of his heritage and his family upbringing. He was dedicated to the care of his mother until her passing at the age of 104, a testament to his servant leadership. He was a devoted father to his children and their spouses, Alan (Kate) and Danielle (Salvatore) with whom he loved sharing his knowledge and support to ensure their success in every aspect of life. He was a cherished grandfather, who took immense pride in his five grandchildren: Connor, Toby, Lila, Tess, and Lyra. Time spent with them brought him his greatest happiness of all until his last days. He is also survived by his nephews, David and Steven (and their families), as well as cousins in Michigan, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, who thought the world of him and the examples he set. He also shared many years with his former wife, Barbara, with whom he raised their family. Richard will be remembered for his steadfast devotion to his family, his thoughtful nature, and his deep appreciation for the beauty of life. Guided by his faith and a belief in a greater purpose, he lived with quiet strength and generosity, while pursuing a level of excellence in everything he did. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the values he instilled, and the love he shared so freely. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Visitation Tuesday 9:30am until time of 11:30am funeral service at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile), Sterling Heights. In lieu of any flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Richard’s memory to Tunnels to Towers (t2t.org). Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com

Richard John Cholewiak

July 18, 1949 - July 14, 2026