T. Richard Cuffe Jr.

Richard Cuffe’s hometown of Lynn was always the center of a life he committed to helping others: His law practice was there. So too was his alma mater, St. Mary’s High School, for which he raised substantial funds; and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lynn and the Rotary Club of Lynn, on whose boards he also served.

But his work took him far afield as well. Fresh out of Providence College in 1967, where he was a member of Army ROTC, Mr. Cuffe was commissioned a second lieutenant, and went on to both Ranger and Airborne training. He spent a year as an intelligence officer with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star medal.

Not long after graduating from Suffolk University Law School in 1975. Mr. Cuffe served in the White House for four years during the Carter Administration as legal counsel to Esther Peterson in the White House Office of Consumer Affairs.

Mr. Cuffe, who was 76, died on Monday, February 21st, 2022, of complications from a stroke he suffered seven years ago in France, where he had just toured the battlefields and cemeteries in Normandy.

But for all his far-flung interests, Mr. Cuffe’s devoted preoccupation was always his family and friends. He and his wife of 46 years, Susan (Pinto), raised three children in Reading, where they resided for over 35 years. They doted on their seven grandchildren. And “Richie,” as he was known, had countless friends for whom he always had an infectious smile. In any gathering of 75-watt bulbs, he was reliably a 150-watter.

Thomas Richard Cuffe Jr. was born in Lynn on September 24,1945, the son of Thomas Richard Cuffe, and Marguerite Heffernan. He was a 1963 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, and a 1967 graduate of Providence College, with a degree in political science.

After an Infantry Officer Basic course at Ft. Benning, GA, Lt. Cuffe completed the toughest training the Army then had, Ranger School. But when he went on to Airborne training, Mr. Cuffe shattered his ankle during his first parachute jump.

After that, he turned down a chance to be discharged because of his injuries, and went on to Vietnam, where Captain Cuffe served from 1968 -1969.

After his White House service, Mr. Cuffe returned to Boston in 1981. Initially, he practiced law at the firm Serino, Harrington and Vernaglia, but inevitably, he was drawn to his hometown of Lynn, where he was a partner in the firm Bradley Moore Primason Cuffe and Weber LLP from 1988 until his retirement in 2015.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Cuffe leaves three children and their spouses, Elisabeth and Aaron D’Antona of Melrose; Annie and Jamie Severance of Reading; and Christopher and Stephanie Cuffe of Reading; his sister, Ellen Driscoll and husband Daniel of Lynn; and seven grandchildren, Justin, Ariah and Julia D’Antona; Katie and Lyla Severance; and Callie and Matthew Cuffe and the late Ryan Thomas Cuffe as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.

His funeral will be held from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, Monday, Feb. 28th at 9:15 A.M. followed by his funeral Mass at St. Pius V Church, Maple St., Lynn, at 10 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Masks are required in Church. Visiting hours Sunday, Feb. 27th from 3 to 6 P.M. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Richard’s memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Lynn, 25 North Common St., Lynn, MA 01902.