Clarence P. Rich, Jr.
Dateline: Norton, MA
Clarence P. “Butch” Rich, Jr., age 74, a lifelong resident of Norton, passed away surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.
Butch was born in the town of Norton on December 18, 1942 to the late Clarence P., Sr. and Virginia “Dolly” (Squardrilli) Rich, and lived in Norton all his life.
He attended Norton Elementary Schools and was a 1961 graduate of Monsignor James Coyle High School in Taunton. In 1964, Butch joined the United States Army Reserves and retired after thirty-six years in the Corps of Engineers with the rank of SGT First Class. He was a recipient of the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Accommodation Medal.
Butch worked for C.P. Rich Plumbing and Heating, which was owned by his father. After his father’s death in 1976, Butch became the owner of the business, which he still owned and operated till the time of his death. He was a Master Plumber, a Master Pipe Fitter, a Master Gas Fitter, a State Refrigeration Contractor and an Assistant Plumbing and Gas Inspector.
He worked for many years on the Norton Fire Department, which he joined in 1958; attaining the rank of Captain. He served under Norton’s first Fire Chief, the late Harold L. Wetherell. During the Blizzard of 78, he served as an Emergency Rescue Worker and was also a Civil Defense Worker.
Over the years, Butch received several awards for his dedicated service and served on many appointed and elected Town boards/commissions and on several advisory boards, including but not limited to membership of the Board of Selectman and as Chairman many times, the Planning Board for 20 years, 12 years as Chairman, the Cable Access Commission, the Cemetery Commission, the Historic District Commission, the Historical Commission, the Building Committee Chairman; First Cable Access Studio, the Building Committee Chairman of the Norton Animal Shelter, the Building Committee of Saint Mary’s Church, the Democratic Town Committee, the Norton High School Feasibility Study Committee, the Town Caucus Committee, the Town Common Committee, the 250th Town Anniversary Celebration Committee, the 275th Town Anniversary Celebration Committee, the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration Committee, the Parade Committee Chairman, the Grand Ball Committee Co-Chairman, the 2000 Millennium Celebration Committee, the 300th Town Anniversary Celebration Committee, the Tri-Centennial Park Committee and the First Night Committee.
Butch also served as an Ecumenical Service Co-Chairman, on the Norton Parade Committee, on the Norton Zoning Board of Appeals, was a Co-Founder of the Christmas Light Up the Common and prepared the Town Report for printing for many years. He was involved with the Boy Scouts, was a member of the Norton Grange, the American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus. He was a life member of the Norton Land Preservation Society, the Norton Historical Society and was a Justice of the Peace.
Butch enjoyed gardening and maintaining his several large flower gardens. He also enjoyed international traveling and visiting the great cathedrals of the world. Butch remained single, dedicating his life to his family, the Town of Norton, St Mary’s Church and his plumbing business. Called simply “Butch” by all who knew him, this soft-spoken, self-educated man did not immediately step onto the political stage.
He was the dear brother of Janet O’Reilly and her husband Ronald of Norton, the late Barbara Brown, who is survived by her husband Vincent and the late Paul “Zeb” Rich. He was the devoted uncle of Jonathan O’Reilly and his wife Pia of Norton and James Brown of Norton. He was the adoring great-uncle of Stephanie Brown, Timothy Brown and Patrick O’Reilly. He is also survived by his loving cousins and many-many close and special friends.
His funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Monday, October 30th at 10:00 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church, 1 Power St., Norton. Military honors, along with entombment will follow at the Norton Common Cemetery in Norton.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, October 29th from 2:00-8:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St. (Off Route 140, Taunton Ave.) Norton.
In lieu of flowers, Butch’s family would prefer and has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Norton Historical Society, 18 West Main St., Norton, MA 02766
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com