Dick Kent will forever by remembered as the friendly face behind the counter at Spencerport Hardware Store (aka Dick’s Hardware Store) or behind the wheel of a Spencerport Central Schools bus.
Dick Kent died on December 21, 2014 at the age of 94. His funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Spencerport.
For those of us who grew up in Spencerport, Dick Kent was referred to as Mr. Kent, the bus driver. As a young girl growing up in Spencerport, Mr. Kent greeted me each morning with a “Hello, Miss McGinnity!” and grin from ear to ear. Smiling came natural to Mr. Kent because he was a happy soul. His happiness was evident in all he did.
When my husband, Mike Fitzgibbon, and I first moved to Spencerport, we made many trips to the hardware store in the village. Our first trip was the most memorable and one I will never forget. I set our purchases on the counter and Mr. Kent looked up at me and with a his jovial smile and gentle voice said, “How are you doing, Miss McGinnity?” I was amazed that Mr. Kent remembered me, as I had not seen him in almost 20 years. When I explained that my husband and I and our three children, had just moved back to the village, he turned to Mike, shook his hand and said, “Welcome to Spencerport, young man!” With that, we knew we were home.
Mr. Kent was a dedicated family man. He and his wife Jean raised their five children in the same house where they first moved into upon their arrival in Spencerport. His family meant the world to him. His devotion to his wife was evident as he looked lovingly down upon her. (For those who did not know the Kents, Dick Kent towered over his petite wife.) He was always ready to tell a story about his children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren.
Rest in peace, Mr. Kent. This Spencerport gal will always remember you with a smile.
Maggie McGinnity-Fitzgibbon
