Westborough – Richard G. “Dick” Healy, 95, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 peacefully in his sleep at home.
Dick was born July 31, 1918, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Matthew Francis Healy and Matilda (Greiner) Healy. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Lynbrook, Long Island, N.Y.
He graduated in 1936 from Lynbrook High School, where he played sports, picked up the lifelong nickname of “Ace,” and was Senior Class President. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1941, where he played basketball and baseball and was eventually inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dick met his predeceased wife, Marjorie Witham Healy, when they were students at UVM, and they were married for 66 years.
He is survived by seven children, Richard W. Healy of Westborough, Michael P. Healy and wife Linda Healy of Bellingham, Joan Lowbridge Sisley and husband Ted Sisley of Monson, John M. Healy and wife Mary Kate Healy of Naples, Fla., Mary M. Lecoeuvre of Sugar Hill, Ga., Paul G. Healy of Westborough, and Christine E. Peyton and husband Brian Peyton of Aurora, Co. Dick's brother, Matthew F. Healy Jr., and sister, Alice Healy Burchell, predeceased him. He also leaves 16 grandchildren and their spouses, Arwen Lowbridge and husband Michael Lane, Rowan Lowbridge, Joel Lecoeuvre and wife Christina, Jackson Lowbridge and wife Jillian, Matthew Healy, Anthony Healy and wife Laura Betinis, Shannon Lecoeuvre, Sam Healy, Cortney Healy, Cristina Healy, Camden Healy, Grace Healy, Allison Healy, Sabrina Peyton, Valerie Peyton and Ben Peyton, and three great-grandchildren, Maci Marie Lecoeuvre and Andrew and Mila Lowbridge.
Dick worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for 42 years and served as claims manager in Lynn, Worcester, and finally Boston. He retired from Liberty Mutual in 1983 and joined the firm of Kevin F. Donoghue Company as Vice President and Claims Consultant. He served as President of the Boston Claims Managers Council and President of the Boston Arbitration Committee. He also handled surcharge hearings for Liberty Mutual until age 91.
Dick served in the Infantry and l5th Air Force during World War II, including two years in Foggia, Italy, and was discharged with the rank of captain. He was passionate about all sports, and served on the Westborough High Football “Chain-gang” for 40 years. He was a high school and college basketball official and life member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials and served in 1966 – 67 as President of IAABO Board 26 of Worcester.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 10:30 a.m.,. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Burial, with military honors, will follow in St. Luke's Cemetery. Calling hours at the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough, are Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of donations to Special Olympics of Massachusetts, Westborough Program, 512 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752.
