Dr. Richard W. Akin

Niskayuna-Richard W. Akin 75, of Niskayuna, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2011 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY.

Born in San Jose, California, to Stella Hoque and John Akin. Richard received an undergraduate education at San Jose State College and continued on to receive his M.D. at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. He has been Chief of Anesthesiology at the Naval Hospital in Boston, the Naval Regional Medical Center in Yokosuka, Japan, and the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Richard was especially proud of his nearly 30 year service in the Unites States Navy from which he retired in 1984 as a Captain. He had lived in Niskayuna since his retirement from active service where he worked as an Anesthesiologist for Schenectady Anesthesia Associates at both Ellis Hospital and St. Claire’s Hospital until his full retirement in 1998. Richard continued to be on the staff at Ellis Hospital until his hospitalization in 2010. Though Richard had many interests including travel, being an avid student of history, and etymology, his first and foremost love was his family and friends.

Richard was the husband to his beloved wife, Tomoko Akin; father to three sons Michael Akin (wife Jacqueline), Richard T. Akin, and John Akin (wife Cynthia); grandfather to three girls Samantha Akin, Ashley Akin, and Penelope Akin; and brother to John “Jack” Akin.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Helen’s Church, Niskayuna, on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 9 AM. There will be no calling hours. Internment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Richard’s memory to the American Heart Association.