Richard N. “Dick” Aarons, Aviation Journalist And Ridgefield Emergency Manager, Dies At 82

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Richard N. “Dick” Aarons, an aviation journalist whose career spanned more than five decades and who later served his community as Ridgefield’s emergency manager, died Dec. 11, 2025. He was 82.

Born Dec. 16, 1942, in Philadelphia to Raymond and Marcella Aarons, he lived in Ridgefield for more than 50 years.

Aarons began his journalism career as a police reporter for the Camden Courier-Post and the Philadelphia Daily News. In 1968, he joined Business & Commercial Aviation magazine as a staff editor, where he combined reporting with a lifelong passion for flight, according to his obituary.

In the 1980s, Aarons expanded his public service work, volunteering as a town constable, fire police officer and emergency services photographer for the Ridgefield and Redding police departments. He also taught as an operations instructor for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and as a communications instructor for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

His involvement in emergency preparedness led to his appointment as Ridgefield’s emergency manager, a role in which he coordinated planning and response efforts for the town.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Deirdre S. Aarons; a son, Michael; a daughter, Noelle McNeill and her husband, Ernie; two grandsons, Andrew Cass and his wife, Kristen, and Kevin Cass; and two sisters, Betsey Neary and her husband, Tom, and Suzy Anderson.