Richard E. Mai

Richard E. Mai, 85, of St. Petersburg, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2025 surrounded by his children.  He was a proud veteran of the armed forces, having served in the U.S. Navy as a Radar Petty Officer.  During the Cuban missile crisis he was responsible for detecting, tracking, and identifying objects and providing tactical information.  He was awarded three medals for his service to his country.  Richard followed in his father's footsteps and enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a precision machinist in the aerospace industry.  He retired from Aircraft Porous Media (APM) in Pinellas Park and was most proud of producing the first parts for the stealth bomber of the U.S. Air Force. However, he considered his children to be his greatest achievement. 

Richard was a member of the The Crystal Cathedral church in Garden Grove California and never missed a service from Dr. Robert Schuller.  He loved nature and was very fond of animals.  He was an avid supporter of Fluff Animal Rescue, Inc. in Seminole, FL, where he adopted his beloved bluetick coonhound, Ruby.    

Richard is survived by his sister Janet; sister-in-law Kathy Mai, nieces Wendy and Amanda Mai; children Suzanne (Kyle), Jennifer (Jeff) and Richard; and grandchildren Austin, Nicholas, Victoria and Richard Noah.