Richard J. Cardoni, 76, of Issaquah, Washington, passed away suddenly on Friday morning, Jan. 11, 2019, at Swedish Cherry Hill Hospital in Seattle.

Rich was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Nov. 8, 1942. He was the son of the late Attilio and Edith Bartolomei Cardoni. He was married for 52 years to Patricia Sedor. His family called him “Nonno.”

Rich was a graduate of Plains Memorial High School, Class of 1960 and Kings College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1964. He received a master’s degree from Bloomsburg University in education in 1970.

Rich began his teaching career at Freeland High School in 1964 and retired from Hazleton Area High School in 1995. He loved baseball and was the head baseball coach at Freeland for nine years. In 2007, Rich and Patricia moved to Issaquah to be close to their daughters and grandchildren.

Rich was a lifelong baseball fan and loved the New York Yankees. He was a personal baseball coach for his grandson, Tommy, and attended every game and tournament. Rich loved to travel with his wife and grandchildren. Rich spoke fluent Italian and Spanish, often mistaken for a local. Rich loved to tell jokes and will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his wife, Patricia Cardoni, of Issaquah, Washington; children Gina Martin and her husband, Rob, of Issaquah, Washington, and Maria Cardoni and her husband, Clyde Fulkerson, of Portland, Oregon; granddaughters Paige and Serena; grandsons Calvin and Tommy; and brother Edmund Cardoni and his wife, Teena, and nephews, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Rich will be buried in Seattle.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice in Rich’s name. Friends are invited to share memories at

www.flintofts.com.