Richard J. Pinardi, of Winchester, passed away peacefully, July 18, 2017 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center of Burlington following a lengthy period of declining health. He was 93 years of age. He was the beloved husband of Linda Colombo Pinardi. Born in Clinton he was one of five children of the late Peter and Rose (Lanza) Pinardi.
Richard was an extremely proud Veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He honorably served in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII. He was an aerial photographer during WWII and his plane was shot down over Austria in 1944. He was captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war and was a survivor of the 86 day Death March to Poland. In November of 2012, Richard was decorated with the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the French Republic. The Legion of Honor medal recognizes the tremendous sacrifices of the U.S. veterans during the four main liberation campaigns of Europe. Richard was one of the original members of the 721st Squadron of the 450th Bomb Group. He participated in many aircraft missions during the dangerous and decisive campaigns of Normandy, Northern France and Southern France. Mr. Pinardi has been awarded many medals for his extraordinary bravery and personal sacrifice during the war. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver Star and four Bronze Service Stars, and the WWII Victory Medal. During the Korean War he was recalled to serve in United States Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1952.
In civilian life Richard worked for many years as a crane operator with the former Julian Construction Co. He later owned and operated the Park Circle Nursing Home in Arlington for close to twenty years. Richard was a collector of all kinds of things. He loved cars and over the years collected many antique and classic cars. One of his greatest pastimes was to dine out with his wife and friends enjoying good food and good company.
In addition to his beloved wife Linda, Richard is survived by his sister-in-law Rosemarie Morrissey and her husband Robert of Summerfield, FL and many loving nieces, nephews and dear friends. He is sadly predeceased by his sisters Gloria Mazocchi, Nellie Pinardi, brothers Charlie and Raymond Pinardi.
Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., Woburn, Tuesday, July 25th, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. Barbara Church, 138 Cambridge Rd., WOBURN, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Monday from 4 thru 8 p.m. Services will conclude with Military Honors and burial at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Richard's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517.