NATICK: Richard Paul “Dick” Slattery, age 82, passed away on Thursday afternoon, January 28, 2016. His children wish to share the following:
With heavy hearts, the Slattery Family announces the passing of their amazing dad, Richard P. “Dick” Slattery, Sr.
Many of you may remember Dick as the Route 5 letter carrier who faithfully delivered mail for 32 years. He lived the post office creed every day to deliver the mail: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
Dick served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a Military Policeman, (MP). He was wounded in combat. He attained the rank of Private First Class, PFC. Dick was a member of the American Legion Post 107 in Natick and a lifetime member at Natick Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1274.
Patriotism was important to Dick, and he instilled it in his children and grandchildren. They will always remember three aspects of their beloved father and grandfather: his strong workhouse drive, his "Army Strong” determination, and his "Let's Go” attitude.
Dick enjoyed spending his summers with his family and many friends at his seasonal home in Dennisport, and wintering at Lake Wales, FL, with other Post Office retirees. Dad, we salute you with a shot of whisky and an Old Milwakee beer for being such a loving real father. Tell Mom “hi” for us when you see her. You were our John Wayne Hero, Dad. Thank you for all that you’ve given us.
Dick was predeceased in 2014, by his wife and wonderful mother of their five children, Dolores Slattery.
He is survived by his five blessed children, daughter Kathleen Slattery Surran and her husband Bill of Tewksbury, their children, Denise Surran Bergeson, her husband Jeremy, and William Surran, his wife Brooke and their children Aiden, Natalie, Logan, and Lucy; daughter Debra Dawson and her fiancé Lester Williams, and her sons Kyle Dawson and CJ Dawson, all of Woodbridge, VA; son Richard P. “ Coach, Rick, Slatts” Slattery, Jr. of Natick; daughter Patricia A. Pellegrini and her fiancé James McDonnell of Falmouth; and son Timothy J. Slattery, who lives in Tewksbury with his sister Kathy; a brother, Joseph “Punk" Slattery and his wife Jeannete of Natick; a sister, Marie Purcell and her husband Ed of California; and many nieces and nephews, among them Mike, Donna, Danny, Stephen, Jimmy and Cindy. Dick was also the Uncle of the late Natick Fireman, Joseph Slattery.
His funeral service will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Thursday, February 4th at 10:00AM. Burial with military honors will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, 5 – 8PM. Donations may be made in Dick’s memory to Class, Inc., 1 Parker St., Lawrence, MA 01876 (www.classinc.org).