Richard Anthony Rivard

Richard Anthony Rivard, 81, of Chandler, Arizona, entered into rest on June 9, 2016. Beloved husband of Jeannie Rivard for 58 years; dear father of Rick (Aree) Rivard, Tony (Jaime) Rivard and Maria Rivard; dear grandfather of Brandi Rivard, Drew (Kimmi) Fleger and Dustin Fleger; dear great-grandfather of Easton and Emma Fleger. . Visitation 6 - 8 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at Valley of the Sun Mortuary, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, Arizona. www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com Rick "Lefty" Rivard, CMSgt, USAF, Retired. A Chandler resident born in Pittsfield Mass and a former high school baseball and basketball athlete. A member of the Pittsfield New England American Legion Championship team in 1951, when he led the team in hitting with a lofty .407 batting average, stolen bases and runs scored. In 1952 his hitting and fielding led his high school team in winning the County Championship and state finals. He later was an integral part of the Majestic Restaurant National All-American Amateur Baseball Championship team in Johnstown, PA. A highly regarded outfielder by the Brooklyn Dodger organization, his baseball career was interrupted when he sustained injuries during his Air Force tour during the Korean War. He later re-enlisted in the Air Force, serving 24 years. The Park University graduate and a highly decorated Korean and Vietnam war veteran, he held numerous key positions in the Air Force as a Communications Operations Superintendent, Senior Technical Advisor to the Indiana ANG, Director of Education AF NCO Academy, and the first Air Force Communications Command Chief Enlisted Advisor, the highest enlisted position in an Air Force Major Command. He also found time to be a Boston Red Sox baseball scout in the Pacific Northwest from 1958 to 1961. He managed Little League baseball, organized "Biddy" Basketball in Riley, Indiana and Belton Missouri. He was also a Sports Director and Announcer for Armed Forces TV in Goose Bay, Labrador, and, later in his career, broadcast radio high school football and basketball in Terre Haute, Indiana. After his air Force career in 1976, he retired to Chandler and worked for the Social Security Administration for 20 years. The "Sarge" also assisted in the TV broadcast of ASU football games for ON Cable TV in the late 70s with John Moynihan and Dennis Sproul. He also found time to vend "Hot Roasted Peanuts and Pistachios" part time from 1989 to 1997, known throughout the state as the "Peanut Man" at all festivals, parades, and social events. In 1997, Mr. Rick became a substitute teacher in the Chandler Unified School District, teaching primarily at Hamilton H.S. when in 2005 he was cited by the school's Government "We The People" and the baseball programs' prestigious "Honorary Husky" award for his active dedication, support and contribution to both school programs. He enjoyed "hanging out" with the baseball teams, scouting and sharing his baseball knowledge, but most of all sharing his entertaining stories about Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio era players. The Ol' lefthander has rounded third, headed for home, and after a headfirst slide, has been declared "safe!" He was a member of the American Legion, DAV, AF Sergeants Association, and the VFW.