Dr. Richard Benedict Carnicky, 90, passed into eternal life peacefully on July 17, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona, surrounded by his loving family.
Richard was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Charles and Theresa Carnicky on December 1, 1929. He attended St. John’s Catholic Grade School and Warren Harding High School. He went on to graduate from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, with a Bachelor of Science. From there, Richard attended Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where he obtained his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in 1957. Following graduation, he began his career as a staff physician at Bashline-Rossman Hospital in Grove City, Pennsylvania and soon became a board-certified family medicine physician. On June 6, 1960, he married the love of his life, Carol Joyce Teare, in Cumberland, Maryland and they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. He and Carol moved from Grove City, Pennsylvania to Phoenix, Arizona in 1961 to begin their lives and raise a family. Richard opened Northern Avenue Clinic and served the community as a family medicine physician for 56 years. He retired from practice in 2013. He loved practicing medicine and often said that he never worked a day in his life. He was an active member of the AOMA and held hospital and professional leadership roles including Chief of Staff at Community Hospital, House of Delegates for AOMA and taught medical students in his many years of practicing medicine. Richard was an active member of his parish, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and was a volunteer in his community. Richard loved life and lived it to the fullest. He adored his wife, his family and his work and he easily built lasting relationships with people. He was known for his enthusiasm and positive outlook. Richard had an amazing smile and an infectious laugh. He was loved by all and will be greatly missed.
Richard is survived by his wife, Carol, his four children and their spouses, Andrea (Michael), Laura (David), Jennifer (Perry), and Richard. He is also survived by his 9 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Theresa, his 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
Funeral services will be private for the immediate family only.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Banner Health Foundation (Banner Hospice) at give.bannerhealth.com/hospice. The family of Richard Carnicky wishes to thank Banner Hospice for the outstanding compassionate care they provided to Richard.
Condolences and Hugs from Home may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.
Larry Blattner
My deepest sympathy on Dr. Carnicky’s passing. He was a great doctor, mentor and friend.
Posey and John Nash
We were lucky to live up the street from the Carnicky home! Doc was quite the gardener, no matter how hot it was he would be out there with that big smile on his face pruning and trimming in his beloved yard.
What a fine man.
Lori Olson
Dear Carol and all of the family.
Mark and I are deeply sorry for this great loss. We loved seeing Dr Carnicky at Mass on Saturday evenings. He was the kindest man with an infectious smile. Carol I have so many memories of us raising our kiddos at St Francis. I would love to see you when times are kinder to us all. You and your family are in our prayers.
Love to you
The Olson Family
Mary
My most deepest love is with you Andy and Mike and kids during this hard time. My dad is my hero too. Im so sorry.
Ileana Giordan
So sorry for your loss Andy. Your dad always had a smile on his face. This is what I will Always remember
Theresa Dwyer
We are so sorry to hear of Richard’s passing and are keeping you all close in our hearts and prayers. Richard was so special and meant so much to us and so many people that there are just no words. How lucky and blessed are we to have known him. We are sure that Richard is in heaven with his parents and siblings, and sharing a good laugh and drink with our mom and dad. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Theresa & Julie (the Gazzola girls) and Doug Kahl
Susan Hansen
Laura I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers and hugs to the Robertson, Carnicky families.
suzanne pearl
I can only imagine how you will miss Rich. What a wonderful neighbor and kind human. We will so miss seeing him every weekend (regardless of the heat index) with Andy, trimming and talking and laughing. You all have an angel looking after you from above now…….and you all have each other. Sending love to you.
Mike McCauley
My sympathies and prayers to the family. Very fond memories of his laugh, seeing him working around his yard and then come in for a cup of coffee and a cigarette; very kind and nice man!
Tim and Missie
Our hearts are saddened with the loss of the legend. We will forever miss that infectious laugh and big smile. We have no doubt he is in heaven having a mimosa with his Lord. The world is more empty without Ricardo.
Mae
I am so sorry for your loss
Dr Carnicky was a great doctor he was so funny he will be missed
Debbie Peterson
My deepest sympathies on the passing of Dr Carnicky. I worked with him at Steingard Medical Group for 6 years. He had a wonderful sense of humor that will be missed by many!
Enjoy the garden everyday day Dr Carnicky!
Robert Navarro & Family
My Condolences to Mrs. Carnicky and Family.
me and my husband and kids were Dr. Carnicky’s patients for many years we loved Dr. Carnicky
Sorry for your loss.
God bless you all.
Mary Anna Bliss
Laura,
I am so sorry for your loss. Your father was a blessing to all who knew him. I was lucky enough to meet him through our friendship and have great memories of being at your childhood home in Phoenix always amazed by his Kachina doll collection. We would spend hours looking through old photo albums and your dad would intermittently chime in with laughter and share stories with us. Such great memories!
Mary Anna Bliss
Laura,
I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting your dad through our friendship. I remember going to your parents home when we were in college and being amazed by your dad’s Kachina collection. We would spend hours looking through old photo albums and he would chime in from the other room with laughter and stories to share with us…such nice memories.
Vickie Broekhuizen
Please accept my condolences at the passing of Dr. Carnicky. I worked at Community Hospital in the Radiology Dept. from 1972 to 1988. It was always a joy to see and interact with Dr. Carnicky. He had the biggest smile and exuded happiness from every pore of his body. He was a kind and compassionate soul. My prayers for your comfort as you grieve his loss.
Pat Parisian
Dear Carol and Family,
We were sorry to learn of Dr. Carnicky’s passing . We will miss his smile and seeing him working in the yard on his trees. Please, if there is anything we can do for you, let us know. We are right next door.
Sincerely,
Pat and Suzanne Parisian
Larry V. Bayles
My heartfelt condolences to the family on the loss of a great man, I know will be missed!
Ralph M Petriello
To the Carnicky family: My deepest sympathy in your loss of Richard. I read of his passing in Sunday’s obituary.
What a coincidence! Thought you’d be interested that I was born in Bridgeport, CT on ll/02/29, one month before Richard. My grade school was St. Charles (graduated 1943), about 1 mile from St. John’s and also I graduated from Warren Harding in 1947. We lived on Kossuth St. near Boston Ave. On holy Thursdays we visited St. John’s along with several other churches in the area.
I immediately went to my yearbook to look up Richard but he wasn’t listed. I knew many of my fellow classmates but don’t remember Richard. Can you please solve the mystery for me? I’m guessing this intelligent man skipped a grade & graduated in Harding 1946.
Ralph Petriello
Sun Lakes Village, Chandler, AZ
John Bamberl DO
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Richard. I knew Richard and worked with him for 45 years. Later on he became my patient.
He was a warm, smiling, considerate human being.
The world is better that Richard was here.
John
Paula DeMore
Mrs. Carnicky, Laura, Andy and family,
Dr. Carnicky was my second dad and I will always love him in that way. It’s hard to believe he is gone because he was always so full of life. I cannot think about him without seeing his smile and hearing his voice and his laugh. He was such an important part of my growing up and I am so grateful to have known him and to have been able to spend so much time with him. He was a truly amazing human being.
XO
Paula