Richard Joseph Kagan died Wednesday February 26 at Baystate Medical Center. He was born on March 31, 1937 in Holyoke, soon after, his father, Joseph’s job was transferred to Baltimore MD where he would spend his childhood. In 1948, another transfer returned the Kagans to Chicopee. He graduated from Chicopee High School in 1955, excelling academically and athletically in football, basketball, and baseball for successful teams in a Golden Era of high school sports. He moved on to Williams College and played football and baseball for the Ephs. After graduating in 1959, he was invited to try out for the newly-formed Boston Patriots of the AFL. He also attended Boston University law school and would end up working on John F. Kennedy’s successful 1960 presidential campaign. He was truly a “Renaissance man” - a collector of 19th century books and printed ephemera, he loved fishing the rivers of Western Mass and Quabbin Resevoir. He enjoyed opera and had a passion for musicals of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. He played Tri-County baseball for the Tiger AC and the Colonels. He founded, sponsored, coached, and played for the indomitable Druid Ridge men’s basketball teams in the Chicopee Men’s League in the 1970s and 80s. He started his career with Connecticut General and was hired by IBM in 1965 where he spent 27 years as a systems analyst, retiring in 1992. In semi-retirement, he started Kagan Computer Services and did independent work with numerous Pioneer Valley companies. In full retirement, he would be rewarded with the gift of attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and was a fixture at Chicopee Comprehensive high school athletic contests. His grandsons and granddaughters delivered for him, with memorable moments with great performances and eternal victories that he reveled in and inspired him in his difficult late stages of life. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for competition – win or lose, was genuine and evident to the many who knew him at the games. He leaves his wife Dorothy (Kwiecien), his son, Richard II and Yeva of Chicopee, his daughter, Heidi, and Tim Kane of Wilbraham. Son, Todd of Granby. And son, Harley, and Marylou of Chicopee. He leaves 10 grandchildren. Nataliya, Tyler, Troy, Harley, Zane, Cameron, Aleksandra, Oksana, Travis, and Calvin. Calling hours will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Grise` Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St, Chicopee. Burial will be private at a later date in St Stanislaus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Chicopee Comprehensive Friends of Football, 617 Montgomery Street Chicopee, MA 01020.