Richard H. Nielsen, Sr., 92, of Natick, formerly of Hyde Park and Revere, passed away on July 8, 2012. He was the beloved husband of the late Victoria C. (DeAngelis) Nielsen who passed away in 2010 and with whom he shared almost 69 years of marriage.
Born in Boston, son of the late Heinrich V.P. and Louise (Larsen) Nielsen, Mr. Nielsen was raised in the Orient Heights section of Boston. He attended the Boston Public Schools and graduated from Mechanic Arts High School in 1937. He went on to study engineering at Lowell Tech and also studied a variety of construction and building related curriculums at Wentworth Institute, Burdett College, and Northeastern University. A member of the “Greatest Generation”, Mr. Nielsen honorably served his country during WWII in the United States Army Air Corps as a staff sergeant with the 104th Army Airways Communication Squadron. Upon returning from military service, Mr. Nielsen joined his father’s cabinetry and carpentry business, H.V.P. Nielsen & Sons on Atlantic Avenue in Boston’s Waterfront District. As the waterfront area began to be developed their business was relocated numerous times. Mr. Nielsen then decided to begin his career as an inspector in the Inspectional Services of the Department for the City of Boston. Through hard work and dedication he advanced to become the Chief Building Inspector and finally the Director of Building and Structures for the City of Boston, a position he held until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees – Local 0703 and the Massachusetts Retired State, County, and Municipal Employees Association. An avid piano and organ player, Mr. Nielsen would play piano requests on the radio airways for many years. He was also a 32nd degree member of the Eliot – Hyde Park Lodge of Masons and would play the organ at Masonic Halls throughout Massachusetts. After moving to Hyde Park from Revere in 1947 he was very active in Hyde Park’s Christ Episcopal Church and also the Hyde Park Historical Association. A worldwide traveler, he also had a great fondness for geography and history.
He was the devoted father of Richard H. Nielsen II, of Hyde Park and his companion Rosemarie Lynch of Quincy, Judith Ravindra and her husband Mysore of Natick, Nancy Whiteley and her husband Richard of Shelton, CT, Carl Nielsen, Sr. and his wife Robin of Plymouth, father-in-law of Betty Nielsen of Norton and father of the late Eugene Nielsen. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 4 great- grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his grandson Christopher Ludovico, his niece Charlotte Maloney and his siblings, Helmuth Nielsen, Charlotte Hyslop, Flora Crosby, Frederica Dooley, Rudolph Nielsen, and Robert Nielsen, Sr.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend his funeral on Friday, July 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 39 East Central St. (Rt. 135) Natick. Visiting hours will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common) Natick prior to the service beginning at 11:00 AM. Burial with military honors will follow the service in Glenwood Cemetery, South Natick. Those wishing to remember Mr. Nielsen may do so through memorial donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children – Boston, 51 Blossom St. Boston, MA 02114. For directions and online guestbook please visit www.everettfuneral.com