Richard Belisle

Never one to sit still for very long, Richard “Dick” Belisle set out on his final great adventure on June 7th, 2024. 

Richard’s journey began on December 8, 1942 when he came into this world as only he could, larger-than-life and on the move, giving his parents, Corine (Maranda) and Arthur Belisle a run for their money and one they would never fully catch.

Richard grew up in Millbury, MA, the only child of his French Canadian folks, where he attended the local schools and remained until he enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War, no doubt inspired by his beloved uncle Francis Maranda’s service in the very same Navy. He graduated from Clark University shortly thereafter and embarked on a decades long career as a child protective social worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during which he assisted countless families in their time of greatest need. 

Richard was many things to many people, among them: son, husband, companion, Dickie Doo, Daddy, Daddy DJ, Captain Sofa, Grampa, loyal friend, Woolie, Clarkie, Tin Can Sailor, social worker, ballplayer, bowler, master of the 7-iron, tennis player, card shark, pool shark, Land Shark, Elk Exalted Ruler, passionate Red Sox and Patriot fan, River Rat, Sled Dog, ski patroller, camper, partner-in-crime, biker, photographer, trivia buff, Scat master of the early knock, magician, joke teller, prankster, epic story teller, lifelong member of the Mickey Mouse Club, Jeeper, fierce competitor, consumer of copious amounts of Oreo cookies and M & M’s, crepe connoisseur, Motown music lover, adventurer, dancer, prolific maker of paper napkin roses and quite possibly the only person to voluntarily watch the Disney movie Fantasia more than once. 

No one ever walked away a stranger to Richard because no one ever walked away from Richard. His quick wit, humor, charm, and charisma would conjure a smile and a laugh from even the hardest of hearts and in the darkest of times. His adventures were numerous and legendary and to

be just a small part of one alongside him was to have more fun than should be possible or allowed and akin to winning life’s greatest prize.

In the Wizard of Oz, the Wizard tells the Tin Man as he confers upon him his long-awaited heart, “A heart is judged not by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” Richard was therefore in possession of the greatest of hearts for he was loved so dearly by so many but most deeply by: his wife of 50 years, Carolyn, his daughter Cheryl Bonin (along

with husband Bill), daughter Darlene Belisle, and of course his one and only beloved “Grandbaby”, Alexandra Bonin. His extended family also included Nancy (Lachapelle) Felton and Jason Felton.

Until we meet again Richard… “Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.”- Peter Pan The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Christopher House, Brookside Unit in Worcester for their compassionate

care of Richard for the past 15 months.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made either to the Millbury Historical Society, 123 Elm St., Millbury, MA 01527 or the Christopher House Residents Fund, 10 Mary Scano Drive, Worcester, MA 01605.

Calling hours will be open to family and friends on Thursday, June 13^th from 5-7 pm at Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 North Main St., Millbury, MA. Military honors will be held at 7pm along with a brief eulogy.

The family would also like to invite family and friends to a gathering on Sunday June 23rd, 2024, at the Millbury VFW on South Main St., Millbury from 1-4 for a Pirate Party in honor of Richard. Light refreshments and laughter will abound. Pirate attire is encouraged, which is how Richard would have wanted it.

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