Obituary of Richard M. Varga

Richard M. Varga, age 53, of Fountain Hills, AZ passed away on Friday, August 23, 2024, at home.

The family will be receiving friends at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave, Maplewood, NJ on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Rich was born in Elizabeth, NJ.  He graduated from New Providence High School and then attended The Culinary Institute of America.  Rich had a long and successful career as a chef; he was an executive chef at multiple Hilton Hotels in New Jersey.  Rich’s accomplishments were frequently noted in the media, including New Jersey Monthly magazine.  Rich and his family relocated to Arizona in 2012.  Rich had a second career with American Eagle Stucco where he was a master estimator and a valued company partner.

Rich will be remembered as being a big kid at heart; he loved playing games, doing puzzles and building Legos.  Rich loved animals and he never met a dog who was not immediately attached to him.   Annual trips to Disney World with his family never got old. 

He is survived by his children Elyse and John, parents Richard and Patricia (Hoffman) Varga and his sister Joanne Lauder.  Rich’s extended family includes aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, all of whom he loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Camp Kesem, 440 N Barranca Ave., # 2273, Covina, CA 91723, ATTN: Kesem at Arizona State University would be appreciated. Donations can also be made online at www.donate.kesem.org, support Camp Kesem at Arizona State University.