Richard B. Maffei

Richard Blaise Maffei, 88, husband of the late Joyce K. Maffei, was a resident of Marblehead for over 50 years. He died peacefully the morning of November 7 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House of the North Shore.

The bulk of Dick’s career was spent at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management where he was Associate Dean and is credited with establishing the school's full-time MBA program. In addition to his academic career, Dick worked as a management consultant for international companies for many years

Dick graduated from MIT, served in the Navy and obtained a doctorate in economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His career included teaching positions at the University of Pennsylvania, The University of Washington, MIT and Dartmouth College.

Dick was born on June 12, 1923 in the Bronx borough of New York. He was the first of three sons born to Dominick and Theresa. His father was a professional musician who worked at Radio City Music Hall and other venues. His father’s connections led Dick to a job at CBS as a page where he witnessed the development of television. Although Dick never mastered an instrument, he appreciated music and encouraged his children to play.

Dick and Joyce King married on July 14, 1950. The couple settled in the newly built Levittown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where they participated in the early establishment of the community. Joyce became active with the League of Woman Voters while Dick worked to build the neighborhood’s school system and infrastructure.

In 1955 the Maffeis relocated to Marblehead, MA, where they raised five children. In 1971, with the encouragement and support of her husband, Joyce ran for election and became Marblehead's first woman selectperson prompting the local newspaper to refer to Dick as Mr. Joyce Maffei. After her untimely death in 1980, Dick continued to live in their Peach’s Point home and he immersed himself in community service and "the acquisition of knowledge."

Dick was an active participant in town and local politics. He was a member of Marblehead's Finance Committee for several years and was never shy about stating his recommendations and opinions. As a practical application of his economic and education backgrounds, Dick was the founding Chairman of the North Shore Vocational School. He also found great joy in working with the people of Russia through his work with Bridges for Peace. Earlier in his career Richard attended the 1956 Nobska nuclear conference in Woods Hole, MA where Edward Teller and others discussed the creation of nuclear submarines and missiles as deterrents. That experience fueled Dick’s future passion for the peace movement.

In his later years Dick’s curiosity drove him to pursue answers on a multitude of subjects. He eagerly engaged in the exploration of, and conversation regarding a myriad of topics that included philosophy, theology, science, world history, mysticism, religion, mathematics, statistics, psychology and his children and grandchildren. Dick saw the world as his classroom and was excited to share his ideas with whomever he encountered.

He leaves behind his 5 children and their spouses: Andy and Cindy, Greg and Laurie, Amanda and Peter, Eliza and Jeff, Adam and Susan; along with his grandchildren and their spouses, numbering twenty-four; and his eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind his brothers, Gilbert of Melbourne, Australia, and Arthur and his family of Pacific Palisades, CA as well as his entire extended family. He is and will be deeply and broadly missed by his family, friends, and community.

Visiting hours will be held at the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Friday, November 11 from 4-8 pm. A funeral service will be held at the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home on Saturday, November 12 at 11 am, with burial at Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead, to follow. Donations may be made in Richard's memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102 Danvers, MA 01923. Please visit the online guestbook for Richard at www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com

Dr. Richard B. Maffei’s Boston College Obituary is available through the following link:

http://www.bc.edu/offices/pubaf/news/2011_jun-aug/maffie-obit.html