LOWELL- Richard Barrett, 67 years old, a lifelong resident of Lowell, who worked at the University of Massachusetts for nearly 40 years, died Sunday morning, April 8th, at his home, after a determined battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was the husband of Joan M. (Gorman) Barrett, and a resident of Lowell’s Belvidere neighborhood for more that 40 years, and was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church where he served on various committees.
The son of the late James Edward Barrett and Margaret Holland Barrett, he was born on July 9, 1939, in his parent’s house in the Pawtucketville neighborhood, where he was raised. He graduated from Lowell, High School, in 1957 and from St. Anselm College, in 1961.
Mr. Barrett served as a Medic in the United States Army from 1961-1963. Following discharge from the army, he began teaching at St. Joseph’s High School, in Lowell. During this time, he met Joan Gorman, also from Lowell, whom he married on June 11, 1966.
He stayed at St. Joseph’s High School for approximately five years before accepting a job at the then Lowell Technological Institute (now UMass Lowell). He served in various capacities there, including Business Management, Institutional Research, and Financial Aid. His final position was as Director of Financial Aid. He was also President of the Service Employees International Union at UMass Lowell, a position he held for many years.
Mr. Barrett, who spent his entire career in education, enjoyed supporting the higher educational needs of individuals. He also enjoyed traveling in Ireland, exploring its rich history.
Surviving him are his wife Joan, RN; daughter: Mary Margaret Barrett, of Lowell; son: Richard S. Barrett, of Lowell; daughter: Catherine P. Barrett, of San Francisco; son: Daniel J. Barrett, of Lowell; and daughter: Attorney Martha J. Barrett, of Lowell; three brothers: James Barrett, II, of Wyndmoor, PA; Thomas Barrett, and his wife Elizabeth, of Duxbury; and Edward Barrett, and his wife Carole, of San Francisco. He was the brother-in-law to: Mary Frances Gorman, of Lowell; Thomas Gorman, and his wife Robyn, of Methuen; Jack Gorman, and his wife Betty, of Colorado Springs, CO; Sheila Gorman Miranda, and her husband John, of Lowell; and Paul Geary, of Michigan.
He was the brother of the late Ann Barrett Geary, and brother-in-law of the late Dorothy Barrett, and son-in-law of the late Mary Neylon Gorman and John Gorman.
Friends may call from 2 to 8 PM on Tuesday, April 10th at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, (Rte. 38), Lowell. His Funeral Mass to be offered on Wednesday, April 11th, at 10 AM at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, Lowell. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. Donations in his memory may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund; 145 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852.