Kendra J. Riccio
Kendra (Kandi) J. Riccio, 78, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 9, 2024, at Smilow Cancer Hospital of Yale/New Haven Health.
Kandi was born in New Britain, Connecticut, on June 22, 1946, to the late Kenneth J. and Katherine Page Heslin. Kandi was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and wife. One of six kids, she grew up going to Giants Neck Beach with her siblings, where her parents owned a beach house, and spent many years enjoying summers there by the sea. She loved the outdoors and excelled at sports. Some of her favorites throughout most of her life were water skiing, snow skiing, and later, golf. She was also an accomplished, instrument-rated pilot who owned and flew her own airplane at one point. She adored skiing so much that she joined the ski patrol at Sugarbush and used her CPR training in her role as an American Red Cross volunteer.
Kandi graduated from Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in Boston and had a long, successful career as a dental hygienist, first at Allen Weinert’s dental practice in New Canaan, Connecticut, and later at Lockworks Dental Group in Branford, Connecticut. She met her beloved husband, Marc, in 1984 in New Canaan and moved to Branford with him after they married in 1987. Together they founded Specialized Data Systems, now located in East Haven, and grew it over the years to great success in the fintech industry. They did this as partners as they did everything in life. Kandi was Marc’s right arm in the business, helping set up systems, doing the books, and helping manage the office.
When they weren’t working, Kandi and Marc were playing — you might find them driving to Vermont to spend time at their house with their two cats, and talking throughout the five-hour drive. Or they may be playing golf and hanging out with their many friends at Clinton Country Club as longtime members. Kandi played regularly as part of the Women’s 9-Holers. At home in Branford, Kandi loved to garden and cook, growing vegetables she’d toss in her wok and add to home-cooked meals for Marc and whomever else might stop by and need to be fed. The kitchen is called the heart of the home and Kandi was the heart of hers. She was also a talented crafter, enjoying needlepoint, sewing, and making stained glass as a way to express her creativity.
Kandi was a member of the Branford Garden Club, treasurer of the Branford Republican Town Committee, and she was a regular moderator for the election polls.
The holidays were special to Kandi and Marc, a time to celebrate with friends and family and Kandi was known for her special turkey stuffing, which led to the couple’s annual Thanksgiving stuffing party. Another one of her favorite things to make was her sister Lee’s coffee cake recipe — 30 cakes at a time — and deliver them to neighbors, friends, and family for Christmas.
That was Kandi, warm, generous, and kind, always giving, always helping. Though she and Marc didn’t have kids, Kandi was open-hearted and motherly to many. She was always ready for anyone who needed her — relative, friend, acquaintance, or animal. But the one who needed her most of all, and was so happy to have been blessed to find her in life, fall in love and get married, was her husband and best friend, Marc. And Kandi needed Marc, her special love of her life for 37 years. They were soulmates and will remain so.
Kandi was and is loved by so many and will be missed so dearly. When you think of her, imagine her in heaven with her late sister Lee Schmid and her late brother-in-law Arthur Riccio Jr. (Svetlana).
She is survived by her husband Marc Riccio, her sisters Doranne Lecercle (Francois), Betty Lou Berger, Katherine McBride (John), her brother K. Buol Heslin (Janet), her brother-in-law Dr. David Riccio (Karen) and many nieces and nephews including Wendy Schmid, Billy Schmid, LeeAnn Berger, Kenny Berger (Karen), Cassie Riccio-Berry (Chris), David Riccio Jr. (Rachel), Natalie Riccio, Adam Riccio (Chelsea), Timothy Riccio (Kaye), Adeline Riccio, and Arthur Riccio III.
Her funeral will leave the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, Friday morning, August 16, at 10:15 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish at St. Vincent De Paul Church, Taylor Avenue, East Haven at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation Thursday afternoon, August 15, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the cat fund at Daniel Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford, CT, 749 E. Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. https://www.branford-ct.gov/departments/animal-shelter. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.
