Dr. Richard Alan Fontaine

Dr. Richard Alan Fontaine, 85, passed away quietly Friday, July 29th, 2022, with his family by his side. Richard grew up in West Lafayette, receiving a degree in Animal Science from the School of Agriculture at Purdue in 1959, then a dentistry degree from Indiana University in 1965. He practiced dentistry in Boswell and West Lafayette until his retirement in 2002. Dick used his practice as a means to pursue his countless passions: Flying both full size and model aircraft; Driving his antique cars on the road and at the Newport Antique Auto Hillclimb; Researching train history with his longtime friend Ron Marquardt and playing with toy trains at home; talking to people all over the world on his Ham radio KC9ST; Snowmobiling in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; Black Smithing at his home forge; Collecting antique outboard motors and boats; Hunting, Fishing, and parenting hundreds of animals. Dick continued to use his knowledge in agriculture to be a gentleman farmer. After a day in the office, he would trade his smock for overalls and farm the fields around his West Lafayette practice. Dick also contributed significantly to several professional organizations: He was a member and multiple term President of the Boswell chapter of Rotary International; Worked to improve the dental profession through the Indiana Dental Federation. Dick was also a founding member of the Illiana Antique Power Association. Dick’s legacy is shared by his wife Donna Starry, his sister Julie Golding (Brage) Dewitt, MI, his daughters Annette Fontaine (Dana Hoggatt) Danbury CT; Monique Fontaine, West Lafayette; Lynet Fontaine, West Lafayette; and Brent Starry (Barbara), Deforest, WI, His grandchildren Orion Furmanski (Eboni Lance); Jevan Furmanski (Whitney), Jon Hoggatt (Amber), Daniel Hoggatt, Benjamin Hoggatt, Sofia Ballotti, Elizabeth Ziehmke (Tony), and David Starry (Kathy Staats) Dick also loved and cherished his 7 Great grandchildren: Ellie, Carl, Soren, Charlotte, Michael, Amelia, and Beau. Visitation with the family will take place on Thursday, August 4thfrom 5:00PM to 7:00 PM at the Grady Funeral Home, Williamsport IN. Services will be held Friday, August 5that 11:00AM at Grady Funeral Home, officiated by Dick’s friend, John Morris. A Luncheon will be offered after the service, location TBA. Memorial contributions may be made to Boswell Rotary Club. Online condolences may be made at gradyfuneralhome.com.