He was 97 years old.
Capt. Richard Warren Bridgeo was the latest in a long family line of Marblehead Sea Captains, born on October 4th, 1923, the second son the late Irving Ingalls and Elsie Freeto Bridgeo.
“Dick” was the loving brother of the late Irving I. Bridgeo, Jr. and devoted husband of the late Susan Jane (Putnam) Bridgeo. He is survived by his eldest son, Richard Warren Bridgeo, Jr. and his wife Wendy Wright Bridgeo of Wayland, MA; Clark Putnam Bridgeo of Marblehead; and his daughter Susan Bridgeo Wood of South Deerfield, MA. He also leaves his 4 grandchildren, Jennifer Wood, Hilary Wood, Abby Bridgeo Muti, Tucker Philip Bridgeo, and great granddaughter Mabel Putnam Muti.
A life-long resident of Marblehead, Richard grew up around the waterfront and was a Sea Scout in his earlier years. Later, when he was in high school, he became a launch man at the Corinthian Yacht Club. After graduating MHS in 1941 he enrolled at Mass. Maritime Academy, and began his 35-year maritime career June 1, 1944 as a 20-year old third mate onboard an army transport ship bound for Greenland.
From 1944-1979, Capt. Bridgeo logged well over 100 voyages and visited nearly every major port in the world, including trips to the USSR and Viet Nam during the Cold War years. He fought off pirates in the Malacca Straits, and made daring rescues of fallen shipmates in stormy seas. He was a firm, but fair leader among his men and they all understood that the “Captain’s Word Was Law”.
After being admitted to the Boston Marine Society in 1962, Capt. Bridgeo was granted veteran status in 1988 for his service during WWII. As the oldest living war veteran in Marblehead, Dick served proudly as Grand Marshall in the 2019 Memorial Day Parade.
But his love of the sea was only paralleled by his love of ice hockey, and he cherished fond memories of his youth playing for the Barnegat Bruins against their arch-rivals the Jersey Street AC at Bobby’s Pond. Dick could be found playing hockey at Redd’s Pond into his 80’s, and nobody was more excited to see MHS capture its first State Hockey Championship in 2011.
Through his longevity, Richard’s time in retirement was actually longer than his working career, and through shrewd investing, he accrued most of his wealth after retirement. He then later demonstrated great generosity by donating a large portion of his wealth to many charities, and helped put all 4 of his grandchildren through college.
Capt. Bridgeo had a true love for the sea, and celebrated his love of maritime lore building ships-in-the-bottle and displayed a vast knowledge of seaman’s knots. He also enjoyed his time as a “shallow water seaman” racing his Corinthian Class sailboat with family and friends during Marblehead’s Race Week.
In his later years, through a degenerative condition, Dick became deaf, and spent the last years of his life lipreading, and communicating through text. He said it made him angry being socially isolated from his friends.
Like any old salt, Capt. Bridgeo enjoyed his “grog” and after his wife passed, found solace during Happy Hour, feeding his “Backyard Buddies” peanuts and birdseed from his back deck and hosted daily dinner for the various birds, squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys and any other critters that wandered through his backyard.
Richard was an avid gardener, and had a knack for growing tremendous sized tomatoes and butternut squash that found their way to many Thanksgiving tables.
He was truly a vivacious sort, and enjoyed life on land as well as the Seven Seas. He kept his hand steady on the tiller through the storms of life, and has represented and honored the Town of Marblehead well. He will be truly missed.
Bon voyage, Captain!
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead, MA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Office of Advancement, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 or Friends of Marblehead Hockey, P.O. Box 1273, Marblehead, MA 01945.
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