Richard John Collins, age 98, of Medford passed away on Tuesday, June 2nd, at Sawtelle Hospice House of Reading. Raised and educated in Winchester, he was the son of the late Dennis J. and Anna (Dolan) Collins. Richard proudly served in the Army during World War II and was later employed as an OSHA administrator for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Richard, known to all as Dick, was beloved husband of Ann (Doherty) Collins, and the devoted father of Patricia Collins and her husband William, Dianne Grube and her husband Jack, Dennis Collins and his wife Natasha, Richard Collins Jr. and his wife Bridget and Mark Collins and his wife Christine. He was the loving grandfather of Walker, Liam, Cameron, Daniel, Erin and her husband Steve, Sarah, Sophia, Aine and her husband Brock, Kerry, Kayla, Matthew and Megan. Richard was the great grandfather of Henry and Colin, and the dear brother of Janice Dolan and her late husband John, and the late Robert Collins. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

In 1949 he helped form an amateur hockey team in Winchester. He held a lifelong love for the sport, and became a coach in the Medford Youth Hockey program. He also coached little league baseball for many years. Dick was involved with Toastmasters International, and the Arlington Men’s Club. In his later years he took up sailboat racing on the Mystic Lakes, and golfed regularly. But he will always be remembered as a family man, and despite all the work he did elsewhere, his first priority was his family. Rarely did he miss attending sporting events or music performances where one of his children or grandchildren was involved. Also, he had an exceptional sense of humor, and kept that to the very end.

Visiting hours will be held in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Tuesday, June 9th from 4 to 7 PM, and again on Wednesday, June 10that 10 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in St. Raphael Church, 512 High St., Medford, at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.