Obituary of Richard Maurice DesMarais

Richard M. DesMarais, 47, of State College, died Friday, January 26, 2018, at Mount Nittany Medical Center. He was born April 25, 1970, in Bellefonte, the son of Sally Glass DesMarais, State College, and the late M. Robert DesMarais. He was a 1988 graduate of State College Area High School. He graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and from Harrisburg Area Community College with an associate's degree in information technology. He had been employed as customer service representative for EarthLink and MindSpring. He had previously worked providing direct care to adults with developmental disabilities in the Harrisburg and State College areas. He had life long love of nature and the outdoors. He enjoyed spending time with his children, and especially enjoyed taking them swimming, canoeing, and hiking at local state parks. He was active in Boy Scouts throughout his youth, including summers at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He enjoyed teaching his sons things that he had learned during his years in Scouts. He loved music, including singing and playing guitar, and enjoyed sharing this with his children. He is survived by his sons, Jacob, Joseph and Justin Harvatine, of Chantilly, Virginia; his sister, Suzanne DesMarais, Washington, D.C., his sister, Barbara Dahl, Salt Lake City, Utah, his brother, James Jacobs, Mill Valley California; nieces sarah Jeanne Westney, Barbara Ann Lundberg and Jennifer Coon; nephews Ross Jacobs and Elliott Jacobs. He was preceded in death by his father, his brother, Robert DesMarais and his nephew, Jared Sulfita. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 10, 2018, at 1 pm at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in State College, with reception afterward. Arrangements were by Koch Funeral Home, State College.