Richard E. Patterson, Sr.
Retired Verizon Technician
DRACUT: Richard E. “Dick” Patterson, Sr., age 80, a resident of Dracut for 56 years, and former member of the Tewksbury Cemetery Board of Directors, passed away with his family by his side at the Lowell General Hospital on Thursday, August 8, 2024, following an extended illness.
He was the beloved husband of Judith K. (White) Patterson, with whom he would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on November 5, 2024.
Born in Lowell on December 8, 1943, he was the son of the late Harry M. Patterson and the late Grace E. (Crown) Patterson. Dick was raised in Tewksbury and graduated from Tewksbury Memorial High School in 1961. After high school he attended Springfield College. In 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served during the Vietnam War Era aboard the U.S.S. Massey and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his active-duty service.
Following his military service, he attended Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, where he received an associate degree in 1976. He later attended Middlesex Community College in Lowell, where he received an additional associate degree in 2000.
Dick was employed for 38 years as a technician by New England Telephone, Nynex and the Verizon Corporation until his retirement. His coworkers affectionately gave him the nickname “The Captain” which stuck with him through the years. You would know this as “CAPTAIN” was prominently displayed on his license plate.
In earlier years, he served as a coach in the Dracut Little League Baseball Program and the Dracut Youth Hockey Program. He also enjoyed golfing and treasured the time he spent with his kids and later his grandchildren boating and water skiing on Ossipee Lake in New Hampshire. “Grampy”, as he was called, loved his time at the lake and spent countless hours and gallons of gas driving the boat for his family to enjoy.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Dracut Fire Chief, Richard E. Patterson, Jr. and his wife Karen, of Dracut, Jeffrey A. Patterson and his partner, Marie Trzil, of Waldorf, MD, and Laurie A. Chase and her husband David, of Elliot, ME: his three grandchildren, Brian Patterson and his wife Jessica, Kevin Patterson and his wife Alyssa, and Trevor Chase: his two great grandchildren, Emma and Riley Patterson. Dick is the brother of William N. Patterson and his wife Linda, of Port Charlotte, FL, Cheryl J. Donoghue and her husband Chuck, of Manchester, NH, Melissa M. Spinosa and her husband Stephen, of Burlington and the late Robert W. Patterson. He leaves many nieces, nephews, extended family members and special neighbors whom he loved.
Calling hours are Monday, August 12, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury, immediately followed by services to be held at the funeral home and interment at Tewksbury Cemetery, 172 East Street, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org