Richard "Dick" Francis Bassett

He was born on January 23, 1939 in Hyannis, part of a large mix of Cape Cod Bassetts and Thachers. Dick was always proud of his family’s deep roots to the Cape. As a boy and teen, he worked tirelessly with his father, Wendell Bassett, to clear the land and build a small house on Gilbert Lane for the family. At 17, he joined the Air Force to see what was over the other side of the Bridge. During one of his service visits home, he met a vacationing young woman staying at the cottage next door, Eleanor Perkins, who would become his wife and best friend for 63 years. They raised two daughters together, but dogs were his true “children”. He would sneak puppies in his work jacket to bring home just for the sheer joy of it. Dick supported the family through a 40-plus year career at the Harwich Water Department rising up the ranks and made lifelong friends there. He also worked many summer nights as a movie projectionist at the Port cinema. Off work, he loved nothing more than riding his motorcycles (was a long standing member of the Cape Cod Motorcycle club) and taking the family on many camping trips with the Cape Cod Camping Club.

Richard was preceded in death one year ago by his beloved wife Eleanor “Ellie” Bassett. He is survived by his loving daughters, Donna (David) Kaplan and Gail Podgurski. He was blessed with five grandchildren; Heidi (Wayne) Fennell, Rick (Kara) Eldredge, Nathan Podgurski, Lindsey Podgurski and Alix Kaplan; also four great-grandchildren.

Both Richard and Eleanor will be buried together in the Bassett family plot in Island Pond Cemetery, Harwich, at a date to be determined