Richard Allen Santi

Richard A. Santi, 85, passed away Friday, November 10, 2023, at St George Regional Hospital.  He was born April 30, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York to Frank Santi and Sigrid Kronke. He married Kay Deane Mecham Allred on December 7th, 1974, at Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah.  

 

Mr. Santi was raised on Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY.  He spent most of his growing years with his father's business, which managed many famous Jazz Singers.  He was always backstage with these singers as he grew up. He was an expert gymnastic competitor in high school.  He served in the Marine Corps, where he was injured at age 21, and then retired from the Marine Corps.  He began working at Grumman Aircraft in Long Island, NY, and was on the Apollo 11 mathematical team.  He was a master of many number systems.  His team calculated and simulated the Apollo 11 landing for 2 years before they actually landed on the moon with the astronauts on July 20, 1969.  He later moved to Salt Lake City, where he met his wife, Kay Deane Mecham Allred. They were married on December 7, 1974.  He raised his wife's children in Salt Lake City, Utah.  After raising the children, they relocated to St George, Utah, to retire. They have been in the St George area for 32 years. The community always remembers him for his ability to make people laugh.  One of the most common questions he asked everyone was:  "How do you spell 'Shop'?"  The person spells it.  Then he asked, "What do you do at a green light?"  Ninety-nine percent of the answers are wrong with 'Stop' at a green light.  He always made people laugh.  Clearing out his library, the family found many books of humor that he had stuffed away to memorize more tricky questions.  He will be missed greatly.  

 

He is survived by his wife Kay Santi of Ivins, Utah.  The stepchildren are Brendeen Allred Spencer of Salt Lake City Utah, previously married to Keven Raphael Spencer of Salt Lake City, UT.  Shannon Allred of Vernal, Uintah County, UT.  married Debbie Brittin of Salt Lake City, UT.  Jill Marie Allred of Vernal, Uintah County, UT married Jeffrey Kone of Salt Lake City, Utah. Richard Santi is preceded in death by his brother, Frank Santi of Brooklyn, NY., and his sister Ruth Santi La Bianca of Brooklyn, NY.  His brother, William Santi, is the only surviving sibling and is now living in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife Linda Ocon Santi.  

 

Richard requested no funeral services or flowers.  Arrangements were made under the direction of Hughes Mortuary.