Louis A. “Rick” Ricciardelli, age 80, of Wayland (formerly of Winchester) passed away on June 29, 2016 after a 21-year courageous battle with a neurological illness. He was the beloved husband for 53 years of Josephine (DeBiasi) Ricciardelli.
Born in Boston, Rick was the son of the late John and Rose (Barbero) Ricciardelli. He was raised and educated in East Boston, and attended BC High School, graduating with the class of 1953. He was a 1957 graduate of Tufts University and a 1962 graduate of the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. He received his post-graduate oral surgery training at Tufts University School of Graduate Dentistry, and completed his internship and residency at Boston City Hospital.
He served in the U.S. Navy as a First Lieutenant dental officer with the Mobile Construction Battalion Unit 1 ”Seabees” in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the early 1960s. Upon discharge, Dr. Ricciardelli built a successful oral surgery practice with offices in East Boston, Saugus, and later in Winchester, MA. He also served as Chief of Oral Surgery at Winthrop Community Hospital, was elected president of the North Metropolitan District Dental Society, and volunteered his dental services at the Don Orione Home in East Boston. He served as a dental professional at the former Deer Island Prison, Winthrop, MA, for over 25years.
Dr. Ricciardelli was passionate about many things in his life. He loved the Red Sox and Patriots through seasons good or bad. He loved a good debate around the dinner table about the topics of the day. He learned plumbing from his father and could often be found with a set of old tools in his hand on a mission to build or fix something. As the son of Depression-era parents, he loved to save a buck, and never came across a piece of junk that he thought couldn’t be salvaged and put to good use. He was also a faithful man who loved God and served on the first Parish Council at St. Eulalia’s Church in Winchester.
But of all the things he loved, there was nothing he loved more than his family and friends. He was a caring and loving husband to Jo. He was a wonderful father to Rob, Patty, Paula, and Mike, always a presence in their lives, coaching baseball, helping with Boy Scouts, and serving on the Board of the Winchester Boat Club. He never missed a high school game or match across multiple sports and many seasons despite a demanding career. He was “Big D” to his beloved grandchildren, whom he showered with love and affection. He was a treasured and loyal friend to many including his lifelong friend, the late Bob Tiernan, and Bob’s wife Lorette. Vacations were often raucous multi-family affairs, with Dr. Ricciardelli at the wheel of an RV, at the head of the table making everyone laugh (or groan) with yet another of his seemingly endless supply of jokes, or on the tennis court driving his opponent crazy with drop shots and lobs.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Robert Ricciardelli of Los Angeles, CA; Patricia Sins (Jack) of Weston; Paula Sumberg (Jeff) of Bethesda, MD; and Michael Ricciardelli (Jennifer) of New Canaan, CT. He is survived by 10 grandchildren: Owen, Emma & Luke Sumberg; Whitney, Cameron & Nathan Sins; Jeffery, Thomas & Maisy Ricciardelli; and William Scheurer. He is also survived by loving cousin-in laws Carm and Dabney Beckner of Medford, NJ.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Eulalia’s Church, 50 Ridge St, Winchester, MA 01890 on Sat. Sept. 10th at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Ricciardelli’s memory may be made to the Don Orione Home 111 Orient Ave., Boston, MA 02128 donorionehome.org or to the St. Matthews Food Pantry, c/o St. Eulalia’s Church at the address listed above.