Richard M. Lewis

Richard M. Lewis passed away peacefully on November 11, 2015, surrounded by his loving family at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, MA. He was born in Derry, N.H on October 2, 1928, and was raised on a farm and attended grammar school in Derry. He graduated from Manchester West High School in 1946. Upon graduation, he immediately enlisted in the United States Navy where he served as a Petty Officer and aviation radio operator for 5 years during the Second World War and the Korean War.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1951, he was hired by Western Electric. While working days, he attended Northeastern University at night and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Management in 1956. He was employed as a Department Head and was on a task force for a supervisory development program. He represented the manufacturing division in the transfer of the Hawthorne, Chicago plant to the North Andover location. He retired from Western Electric in 1987 having worked there for thirty-six years.

In 1952 Richard met the love of his life, Joan David while dancing at the Hampton Beach Casino, something they would enjoy doing for decades to come. They were engaged in 1954 and married in 1956. Together they raised their three boys at their home on Rosedale Ave in Haverhill. When the boys entered scouting, he became chairman of Cub Pack 13 for the Haverhill Council of Scouting, a position he held for ten years.

Richard was a long time parishioner of St. James Church. He was a jack of all trades and filled his time with numerous hobbies. He enjoyed painting and was a member of the Haverhill Arts Association. He was an avid golfer and at various times was a member of the Merrimack Valley Golf Course, Methuen, Far Corner, Bradford, and Deer Track Golf Course, Myrtle Beach. He loved winemaking, stained glass making, and wood working. Above all else, was his passion for gardening. He maintained an extensive garden of fruits, vegetables, flowers and Christmas trees, all of which he happily shared with family, friends, and neighbors, and unhappily with the woodchucks. He was always up for a card game at any time. He enjoyed many summers with his family and friends fishing, sailing, playing softball and pitching horseshoes at Manning Lake in Gilmanton, NH. He wintered for twenty-seven years in Myrtle Beach, playing golf with family and friends. He and Joan loved to travel through Europe, Canada and New Zealand.

He leaves his loving wife of fifty-nine years Joan (David) Lewis; his three sons; Michael Lewis, of Hampton, NH, Larry Lewis and his wife, Heather of Haverhill, MA, and David Lewis and his wife, Julie of Hampton, NH; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Pietrantuono, Michael D. Lewis, Jacqueline Lewis, Hayley Lewis, and Michael R. Lewis II; a sister, Roberta Robie of Derry, NH and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mr. Lewis's Life Celebration on Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. His funeral will begin on Monday at 9 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. James Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. Burial with military honors will follow in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01830. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website, www.brooksidechapelfh.com.