Richard Joseph Sivewright, 76, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born Oct. 31, 1936, in Chicago, Ill., to Joseph Edward and Florence Parquette Sivewright.

Richard moved to the Port Charlotte area seven years ago from the Maryland Eastern Shore. He grew up in Woodstock, Ill., attended Michigan State University, and spent over 30 years in the restaurant business. Richard started his career with Fred Harvey Restaurants at Chicago’s Union Station, and concluded his career after 20 years of service with Kentucky Fried Chicken, where he was vice president and general manager NE operations, and was anointed an Honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was a member of the Charlotte County Volunteer police, was an avid boater, and enjoyed fishing.

Mr. Sivewright is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carol Lee Sivewright; children, Joseph (Susie) Sivewright of St. Louis, Mo., Michael (Leslie) Sivewright of Atlanta, Ga., Elizabeth (Dean) Maxwell of Macomb, Mich., and Amy (Ben) Peter of Louisville Ky.; grandchildren, Caroline (Glenn) Warren, Robert, John, Benton, Charles, Gracie, Bryce, Bridget; and great-granddaughter, Peyton Peter.

The family will have a private Memorial Service at a later date. Please visit Richard’s tribute wall at www.schelmfh.com to share memories and to send condolences to the Sivewright family. Preferred donations may be made in loving memory of Richard to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P. O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-5018, call 1-800-327-4545 to donate by phone, or visit the National Parkinson website at www.parkinson.org or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, by calling 1-800-805-5856 or 1-800-822-6344 to donate by phone, or visit St. Jude’s Research Hospital website at www.stjude.org.

Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home in Lake Suzy, Fla.