Deceased December 2, 2014
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50th Reunion Book Entry
In Memory
Richard “Dick” Chapin Read, 96, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 2 at Loomis Village in South Hadley, Mass. Richard was born on April 7, 1918, in Woonsocket, R.I., the son of Fayette Francis Read, Class of 1908, and Helen Chapin Read, and grew up in Holyoke, Mass.
During World War II he received meteorological training at MIT and was a meteorologist at the Goose Bay airfield in Labrador, Canada, at that time the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Throughout the rest of his life Richard loved to observe weather conditions and maintained meticulous weather records.
Richard married Jean Carter Henderson, also of Holyoke, in 1948. They built their family home in Granby, Mass., on land overlooking the Connecticut River Valley and lived there for more than 50 years. Richard worked as a metallurgist for wire, chain and metals manufacturing companies in Holyoke and subsequently as a technical drawing teacher at Amherst High School. Yet, he most enjoyed repairing large clock movements in his home workshop.
He and Jean moved to Loomis Village in 2002, living independently and enjoying a rich life. Jean passed away after a long illness in 2011. They had been devoted partners for 63 years whose lives revolved around their children and grandchildren.
Until Richard’s death, he was an avid card player, enjoying cribbage and bridge with family and friends. He will always be remembered for his kind, patient and tolerant nature. He is survived by three children and their spouses; six grandchildren and spouses, including grandson-in-law Damian Sorce ’93; and five great-grandchildren, who will carry the game of cribbage into the 21st century. His loving grandson Benjamin Chadwick predeceased him in 1997.
Damian Sorce ’93
