Obituary of Richard M. Webster

Richard M. Webster, a resident of Peabody for 60 years, died in his sleep at the Kaplan House in Danvers on March 22, 2019. He was 96 years old. Born on Columbus Day, Oct 12, 1922 in Lynn Mass, Richard was the son of Harry and Marjorie Webster. He grew up in Swampscott and graduated from Swampscott High School with high honors in 1940. Known to his high school friends as “Wheaties”, Richard was avid tennis player. He was talented artist and for a time considered a career in commercial art. He attended Tufts School of Engineering and graduated in three years with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation he entered the US Army on his 22nd birthday and saw action in Europe with the 3rd Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and two battle stars. After the war Richard began his engineering career at Curtis Wrights Inc in New Jersey as a commercial engine test engineer. It was there that he met and married his wife and live long love, Marie. They married in 1947 and celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in February of this year. They had one son, Bruce, who was born in 1950. The family moved to Peabody in 1958 where Richard took a position at GE in Lynn working on the jet engine program. He would go on to work at Avco Corporation where he worked on advanced missile systems. Richard had many talents and interests. He helped with the creation of the YMCA complex in South Peabody. He ran the Center School Saturday afternoon movie program for kids as the projectionist. He built speaker systems, stereo turners, and cabinets for his home. He tinkered with cars. He continued to pursue his lifelong interest in commercial art. He had a love of music, especially the big bands of Harry James and Glenn Miller. Richard and his wife Marie were great sports fans. He followed all the Boston teams but he especially loved the Red Sox from the time of Jimmy Foxx and Ted Williams to today. His wife Marie was a passionate New York Yankee fan going way back to Gehrig and DiMaggio. The Webster household would engage in lively “discussions” over the many summers as to who would win out in September, the Yanks or Sox. “Dick” and Marie spent many warm summer nights listening to and watching countless Yankee – Red Sox games on radio and TV. Baseball was a love and passion they both shared. Richard was elated when, in 2004, the Sox finally won it all. He judiciously followed them throughout the 2018 season and World Series. Richard also had a love of photography, owned many cameras, and was a technical expert on 35mm photography equipment. In the early 70’s, he embarked on a second career as a photography consultant and salesman for Lechmere Sales in Danvers. It was well known in the circles of professional photographers throughout New England that “Dick” Webster was the expert to seek out and get a dissertation on all the new equipment from Kodak, Nikon, Cannon, Pentax, Hasselblad. He received numerous sales awards over the years. Richard was a kind and loving father attending all his son’s athletic events and supporting him in all his endeavors. He lovingly spent time with his son, reviewing algebra equations, discussing history. He actively played sports with his son and the kids in the neighborhood. The Webster back yard was transformed into a batting cage where Richard would spend hours throwing BP to his son. Richard exhibited that same devotion to his two grandsons Greg and Ryan. “Grandpa” frequently and actively read and played with the boys when they were growing up. He built them a tree house. He attended many of their sporting events from Little League, through high school, and, indeed, traveled around New England to watch both his grandsons’ college football games. Richard and Marie loved Cape Cod and for years vacationed there in the early summer and fall. Richard enjoyed his retirement years tinkering with projects in the garage, working around the yard, reading technical journals, going to dinner with Marie, and following the Sox and Patriots. He enjoyed good health and was active until he suffered a minor stroke a few years ago. His devoted wife Marie selflessly cared for him and they enjoyed short trips to Newburyport and Plum Island, seeing their grandsons, and, of course, following baseball. He had one sister, Betty who died a few years ago. He is survived by his lifelong companion and love, Marie Webster of Peabody, his son Bruce Webster of Melrose Mass., his two grandsons; Lieutenant (USCG) Ryan Webster of Washington DC, and Greg Webster and his fiancée Jen Grossi of Springfield Mass. The family will hold a private ceremony where Richard’s life will be celebrated and remembered. At that ceremony he will receive Military Funeral Honors. In lieu of flowers the family requests any memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Kaplan House, c/o Care Dimensions - Ste. B-102, 75 Sylvan St, Danvers, MA 01923.