Richard "Duke" LaTorre, age 64, died peacefully, surrounded by family and his many friends, at Yale-New Haven Hospital on Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Born on May 20, 1947, he was a life-long Bridgeport resident. The son of the late Ruth Rowland LaTorre Budnovitch and her late husband, Thomas Budnovitch, Richard was a graduate of Notre Dame High School, Class of 1965, and Sacred Heart University, Class of 1969, earning a BA in Mathematics and received a Masters Degree in Education from Fairfield University.  He was a Math teacher at Notre Dame High School, Fairfield from 1969 to the present. Richard currently served as Chairperson of the Math Department, Business and Financial Manager, and Book Store Manager at Notre Dame. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Sacred Heart University for 34 years. Since the early 1970's, Richard was the school scheduler at Notre Dame. Because of his computer knowledge and experience, Notre Dame became one of the first diocesan high schools to computerize its in-house scheduling, report cards and databases, with Richard personally writing all the software. Through his constant dedication in the areas of computer technology and networking, Richard led Notre Dame to become one of the most advanced high schools in the area. He received the "Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award" from Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society of the University of Connecticut. Richard was a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; Mathematical Association of America and American Mathematical Society. Duke loved to travel; he loved anything and everything Disney. He enjoyed fine food, nice cars, all things electronic, music, theatre, sports, Christmas and gift-giving and his pets. Duke very much enjoyed sharing his passion for life and all these special things with his family and friends, fellow teachers and students who all became part of his extended family. He possessed a great sense of humor; his laugh was infectious. Duke was caring, loyal and generous. His life was Notre Dame and his dedication to the school, the students and their families was a part of what makes Notre Dame the outstanding educational institution that it is. Duke created an environment that allowed students the opportunity to develop in the fields of mathematics and computer technology. It is difficult to describe the profound impact his instruction and mentoring had on the thousands of students who were lucky enough to be taught by him. Duke touched many lives with his caring, hard-working, fun-loving and humble approach to education and life. His lasting impact on the students, faculty and alumni of Notre Dame is impossible to overstate. Duke will be greatly missed by all who knew him and understood his 42 year dedication to the education of Notre Dame students. Survivors include his cousins, Diane Benitez, Carol Bereza, Danny Bereza, Steve Rowland, Joan Rowland, Dave Rowland, Tracey Gilbert, John Budnovitch and Susan Jacques. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 10:00 a.m., meeting DIRECTLY at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Park Cemetery, Bridgeport. Friends may call Monday 3 – 8 p.m. in the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. Those who so desire, may make contributions in Richard's memory to the Richard "Duke" LaTorre Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Notre Dame Catholic High School, 220 Jefferson Street, Fairfield, CT 06825. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com.