Richard "Dick" Doughty died on July 22, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts following a short illness. He was 89 years old. His son Richie had assumed responsibility for the bulk of the yardwork, but Dick was an inveterate putterer and he sanded and painted the fence in front of his home just weeks before his death. He was rightfully proud of his fine handiwork.
Dick was born on September 7, 1925 in Everett, Massachusetts. He was the eldest of six children. His youngest brother Bernie noted that he "was like a father to me" after their own father's untimely death. His siblings fondly recall that Richie (as they called him) took them ice skating. Of course, this probably pleased Dick as well. He was a graceful skater, comfortable on blades or wheels, and happy with a hockey stick in his hand making the perfect pass to a teammate. He was a lifelong skater.
Dick often reminisced about his boyhood in Lexington, Massachusetts. Those were his halcyon days. Trapping animals near Route 2, listening to the many musicians in his extended family play together (including his mother, a gifted "play by ear" pianist), skating on Hatch's Pond in the winter ("Hatchie's" to Dick and his friends), and caring for Dolly the horse near Wilson Farm. He told and retold tales of mowing the lawn of famed major league pitcher Vernon "Lefty" Gomez and being rewarded with a trip to Fenway Park.
He served in the United States Armed Forces during the final years of World War II. His organizational abilities were recognized and put to use as company clerk and Dick had many fond memories of his army buddies and not-so-fond memories of bugs on the steamy Florida panhandle. Upon his discharge in 1946 he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon.
Richard Doughty met Margaret "Peggy" Bowe at a roller-skating rink in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She became his partner not only during skating sessions but in life as well. They married on May 20, 1950. The couple honeymooned in New York City taking in the Broadway show "Where's Charley?" starring fellow Massachusetts' native Ray Bolger. Dick sang the show's most famous song "Once in Love with Amy" throughout his life, directing its lyrics to the love of his life, Peggy. Dick and Peggy settled in Boston, eventually raising five children in Roslindale.
It would be an understatement to say that Dick was neat. His meticulous nature served him well during his newspaper career as a skilled photoengraver. He was a valued employee at the Record American, subbed at The Boston Globe, and survived many newspaper mergers before retiring from the Boston Herald in 1990.
At home Dick's thoroughness was legendary. He folded sheets with military precision. The house was cleaned from top to bottom every Saturday. He had more stock in his cellar pantry than the local grocery store. He believed in the right tool for the right job and knew exactly from what hook said tool would be hanging. There was nothing that couldn't be stored in a Ziploc bag. The kitchen knives were always sharp and individually sheathed. He gave his children pointed instructions on painting, mowing, tying ice skates properly (until there was almost no feeling left in one's feet), and maintaining the tip of a sable-hair paint brush. The relentless pursuit of perfection often led to excellence and occasionally to frustration. Dick's children recognized this and in time each was able to humorously imitate a particularly irreverent outburst or two.
Dick enjoyed spending time with his wife Peggy's large family. They visited his mother-in-law on most Saturday evenings in Dorchester and Watertown, gathering with relatives to play cards, pool, and ping-pong. Ever competitive, Dick arrived with his personal pool cue and ping pong paddle. He was uncommonly skilled in many sports: hockey, bowling, ping-pong, baseball, pool, and tossing horseshoes. Summer weekends were spent at "Uncle Pat's pool" in Acton, his in-law's house replete with swimming pool, horseshoe pit, pool table, ping-pong, darts, barbequed food, and a night of penny-ante poker and cards with relatives, and throughout it all, a steady supply of bottled beer.
Dick and Peggy traveled to England, Newfoundland, Hawaii, and took a memorable train trip across Canada to the Rocky Mountains. Winters found them spending a week or more in Florida where they visited siblings and in-laws. They traveled throughout New England with their children and grandchildren and Peggy's brother and sister and their spouses. They played whist and "nickels," laughing and enjoying themselves well into the night.
He enjoyed watching the Boston Bruins in their heyday and listening to the Red Sox on a portable radio while working outside in the yard. Dick bowled on the Record American Century Club team, winning the Hi Neighbor Award for most valuable player during the 1964-65 season. He played hockey and skated for pleasure well into his 70's, even roller-blading at that late age. When the temperature dropped he propped up a hose and let the water flow into his low-lying backyard. When it froze he and his children and their neighborhood friends spent time skating and playing "pond" hockey on the ragged rink.
Dick was the proud grandfather of Michael, Thomas, Hannah, and Caleb. He held them when they were babies, used his ancient leather glove to play baseball catch with them, asked about their schoolwork, admired their accomplishments, and watched in awe as they grew taller and taller with each visit. "Grampa" was a sharp cribbage player and passed along strategic tips while playing with his grandchildren.
Dick especially loved spending time with Peggy. After he retired they began to play Scrabble on an almost-daily basis. Initially Dick routinely lost to his wife, but he persevered until he could provide Peggy with some stiff competition. He enjoyed music, whistled in tune, and in later years often sang while Peggy danced in their kitchen.
In addition to his beloved wife Margaret V. (Bowe) Doughty, he leaves behind his children: kathleen codyrachel of Wolfeboro, NH; Francis and his wife Laura of Wendell, Massachusetts; Richard J. of Roslindale; Gerald T. and his wife Patricia of Winchester, NH; and Lydia and her husband Robert Harris of Belmont. He was the devoted grandfather of Michael, Thomas, Hannah and Caleb and the brother of Peggy Welch, Lois Jones and Bernie Doughty and the late Charles Doughty and Robert Doughty. He will be missed by his family, relatives and friends.
A Memorial Life Celebration will be held at a later date. Remembrances in memory of Richard may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.
Dick was born on September 7, 1925 in Everett, Massachusetts. He was the eldest of six children. His youngest brother Bernie noted that he "was like a father to me" after their own father's untimely death. His siblings fondly recall that Richie (as they called him) took them ice skating. Of course, this probably pleased Dick as well. He was a graceful skater, comfortable on blades or wheels, and happy with a hockey stick in his hand making the perfect pass to a teammate. He was a lifelong skater.
Dick often reminisced about his boyhood in Lexington, Massachusetts. Those were his halcyon days. Trapping animals near Route 2, listening to the many musicians in his extended family play together (including his mother, a gifted "play by ear" pianist), skating on Hatch's Pond in the winter ("Hatchie's" to Dick and his friends), and caring for Dolly the horse near Wilson Farm. He told and retold tales of mowing the lawn of famed major league pitcher Vernon "Lefty" Gomez and being rewarded with a trip to Fenway Park.
He served in the United States Armed Forces during the final years of World War II. His organizational abilities were recognized and put to use as company clerk and Dick had many fond memories of his army buddies and not-so-fond memories of bugs on the steamy Florida panhandle. Upon his discharge in 1946 he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon.
Richard Doughty met Margaret "Peggy" Bowe at a roller-skating rink in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She became his partner not only during skating sessions but in life as well. They married on May 20, 1950. The couple honeymooned in New York City taking in the Broadway show "Where's Charley?" starring fellow Massachusetts' native Ray Bolger. Dick sang the show's most famous song "Once in Love with Amy" throughout his life, directing its lyrics to the love of his life, Peggy. Dick and Peggy settled in Boston, eventually raising five children in Roslindale.
It would be an understatement to say that Dick was neat. His meticulous nature served him well during his newspaper career as a skilled photoengraver. He was a valued employee at the Record American, subbed at The Boston Globe, and survived many newspaper mergers before retiring from the Boston Herald in 1990.
At home Dick's thoroughness was legendary. He folded sheets with military precision. The house was cleaned from top to bottom every Saturday. He had more stock in his cellar pantry than the local grocery store. He believed in the right tool for the right job and knew exactly from what hook said tool would be hanging. There was nothing that couldn't be stored in a Ziploc bag. The kitchen knives were always sharp and individually sheathed. He gave his children pointed instructions on painting, mowing, tying ice skates properly (until there was almost no feeling left in one's feet), and maintaining the tip of a sable-hair paint brush. The relentless pursuit of perfection often led to excellence and occasionally to frustration. Dick's children recognized this and in time each was able to humorously imitate a particularly irreverent outburst or two.
Dick enjoyed spending time with his wife Peggy's large family. They visited his mother-in-law on most Saturday evenings in Dorchester and Watertown, gathering with relatives to play cards, pool, and ping-pong. Ever competitive, Dick arrived with his personal pool cue and ping pong paddle. He was uncommonly skilled in many sports: hockey, bowling, ping-pong, baseball, pool, and tossing horseshoes. Summer weekends were spent at "Uncle Pat's pool" in Acton, his in-law's house replete with swimming pool, horseshoe pit, pool table, ping-pong, darts, barbequed food, and a night of penny-ante poker and cards with relatives, and throughout it all, a steady supply of bottled beer.
Dick and Peggy traveled to England, Newfoundland, Hawaii, and took a memorable train trip across Canada to the Rocky Mountains. Winters found them spending a week or more in Florida where they visited siblings and in-laws. They traveled throughout New England with their children and grandchildren and Peggy's brother and sister and their spouses. They played whist and "nickels," laughing and enjoying themselves well into the night.
He enjoyed watching the Boston Bruins in their heyday and listening to the Red Sox on a portable radio while working outside in the yard. Dick bowled on the Record American Century Club team, winning the Hi Neighbor Award for most valuable player during the 1964-65 season. He played hockey and skated for pleasure well into his 70's, even roller-blading at that late age. When the temperature dropped he propped up a hose and let the water flow into his low-lying backyard. When it froze he and his children and their neighborhood friends spent time skating and playing "pond" hockey on the ragged rink.
Dick was the proud grandfather of Michael, Thomas, Hannah, and Caleb. He held them when they were babies, used his ancient leather glove to play baseball catch with them, asked about their schoolwork, admired their accomplishments, and watched in awe as they grew taller and taller with each visit. "Grampa" was a sharp cribbage player and passed along strategic tips while playing with his grandchildren.
Dick especially loved spending time with Peggy. After he retired they began to play Scrabble on an almost-daily basis. Initially Dick routinely lost to his wife, but he persevered until he could provide Peggy with some stiff competition. He enjoyed music, whistled in tune, and in later years often sang while Peggy danced in their kitchen.
In addition to his beloved wife Margaret V. (Bowe) Doughty, he leaves behind his children: kathleen codyrachel of Wolfeboro, NH; Francis and his wife Laura of Wendell, Massachusetts; Richard J. of Roslindale; Gerald T. and his wife Patricia of Winchester, NH; and Lydia and her husband Robert Harris of Belmont. He was the devoted grandfather of Michael, Thomas, Hannah and Caleb and the brother of Peggy Welch, Lois Jones and Bernie Doughty and the late Charles Doughty and Robert Doughty. He will be missed by his family, relatives and friends.
A Memorial Life Celebration will be held at a later date. Remembrances in memory of Richard may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.
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