Ret. Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Regan, USMC

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard Charles Regan, USMC of Hilton Head, SC, entered eternal life on April 20, 2026, surrounded by family who mostly called him PopPop.

Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1945, he demonstrated leadership from an early age. Serving as captain of his school safety patrol, he was recognized with the American Legion School Award for Leadership. He was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and earned a scholarship to Villanova University. He further served his community as a volunteer firefighter in Philadelphia and rose to Captain at the age of 18.

In 1965, Rich joined the U.S. Marine Corps and trained at Parris Island where he excelled in basic training and was selected for Navy flight school in Pensacola, FL. Upon successfully completing flight training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and received his wings as a helicopter pilot.

Rich served in Vietnam as a Huey gunship with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 167, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight. After that duty tour, Rich was assigned to MCAS Beaufort as a search and rescue pilot. It was during this tour in 1978, when he met and married his loving and cherished wife Lil.

Rich’s next duty station was Norfolk, VA where he was stationed aboard the USS Iwo Jima, assigned to the Marine Expeditionary Unit, a rapid assault amphibious assault ship.

After a highly successful 21-year career of distinguished service with the Marine Corp, Rich and his family retired to Hilton Head where he started his career in carpentry. In that pursuit, he designed, built and crafted objects including over 200 centerpieces for St. Francis’ Annual School Galas, a TV cabinet for St. Francis’ Family Center, an outdoor library for the church and school, and with Michael McDonald, installed the Stations of the Cross in the church, plus altar furniture for the nuns’ convent, of which some pieces are now here on the altar. For may of those efforts and his dedication, in 2015, Rich was awarded the annual Parish Recognition Award.

Moreover, Rich was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 35 years and faithfully served in numerous leadership positions, including Grand Knight, District Deputy, Faithful Navigator, and as a 4th Degree Sir Knight for 33 years. He was an exemplary Knight and was a cherished member of St. Francis By the Sea parish community. He will be missed by his brother Knights and all who were blessed to know him.

For many years, Rich volunteered at Programs for Exceptional People (PEP) on numerous projects. He was a faithful member of the St. Francis bible study group for more than ten years and enjoyed weekly luncheons with his many friends as a member of the ROMEOS. Rich lived a distinguished life and exemplified being a man of honor, service and faith.

In recent years, he enjoyed sitting on his deck watching the many beautiful birds.

He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 48 years, Lil; one son, Richard (Tony) Serrato; 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, 45 Beach City Road, Hilton Head, SC on May 12, 2026, at 10am, with a reception following inurnment in the church’s columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Programs for Exceptional People (PEP).