Richard Lussier

He will join his wife Mary Alice in heaven.

Born in Springfield, MA to parents George and Edna Lussier, he was the oldest of 5 children. He is survived by siblings Rita, Raymond, Connie, and Roger and by 5 sons, Joseph Raymond, Justin Gerard, Vincent John, Paul Bernard, John Guy and 9 grandchildren.

Growing up in Springfield, he played hockey (left wing) baseball and basketball. After graduating from Cathedral High School in Springfield, he joined the Army at the end of World War II, and made rank of Buck Sergeant in Korea. After his stint in the Army, he was accepted into Manhattan College and graduated as an Electrical Engineer. Following graduation he obtained his Professional Engineers License. His first job was at Otis Elevator, and then at Grumman Aerospace where he worked on the power supply for the Lunar Excursion Module.

It was about this time that he met and married Mary Alice Grimes on April 4th,1959. In the early 1970’s he began to work for the New York Telephone Company where he worked until he retired. Sadly, Mary died in 1982 from complications from Leukemia. A devout Catholic, Richard attended Daily Mass at Holy Name of Jesus up until a year ago, but still went to Sunday Mass. He never remarried.

Always proud of his roots in Saint-Sébastien Quebec, he was a lover of the French language. In the last month of his life he was severely disabled by a stroke which affected his left side and speech. When asked “Comment ca va?” He would respond “Ca va” from his bed in the ICU.

Rich will be remembered by all as being a hard worker, smart, diligent, faithful, frugal, a family man, and always positive. Even after Chemo and Radiation for rectal cancer in 2013, then having surgery in 2016 for intestinal cancer, and most recently in November, surgery for bladder cancer, he still remained positive. As Rich would say often, “Every day is beautiful”

Adieu Rich!