…retired Silver Tones’ pianist; 87
TEWKSBURY - Richard Thomas Marshall, age 87, a well known member of Tewksbury’s Senior Community, died unexpectedly Wednesday night, November 9, at Lahey Medical Center in Burlington from complication of Diabetes. He was the beloved husband of Martha A. (Perreault) Marshall, with whom he had celebrated a twenty-third wedding anniversary this past June.
Richard, or “Dick” as he liked to be called, was born in Tenafly, NJ in October 1929, a son of the late Simon and Josephine (Bultman) Marshall, raised in N.J., and had lived in Tewksbury since 1990.
He was an accomplished musician, and in his early years played piano in venues in New York City with notable performers such as of Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, and sisters Rosemary and Betty Clooney. In the fifties, he turned his career to chemistry, where he specialized in Ink production. During his career he worked on specialized inks to prevent counterfeiting for the FBI, CIA, and others, and edible inks for the food and toy industries. More recently his specialty became Gold Inks for notable clients like Victoria’s Secret.
In his retirement, music again became joy of his life as the pianist for the Silver Tones’ swing band, based at the Tewksbury Senior Center. Dick and his wife were active members and volunteers at the Senior Center, and held membership in the Tewksbury Golden Age Club.
Besides his wife he leaves two children, Jonathan Marshall of TX and Leslie and her husband Robert Singer of PA; four step-children, Maureen and her husband Frank Conway of Derry, NH, Brenda and her husband Scott Bruce, and Stephen and his wife Karen Baker all of Wilmington, JoAnn and her husband Frank Velozo of Tewksbury; fifteen grandchildren, Richard Marshall, Kimberly Marshall, Melissa Fischer Kristin Singer, Devin Conway, Delaney Conway, Derek Bruce, Kara Pereira, Stephen Baker, Jason Baker, John Baker, Eric Velozo, Emily Velozo, Janel Velozo, and Kayla Velozo; ten great grandchildren, Cameron, Lucas, Kyla, Desmond, Greyson, Daniel, Madison, Macy, Kailyn, and Michael ; and many friends at the Senior Center.
Relatives and friends will be received on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER. Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. A Celebration of Life Service and G.A.C. Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Diabetes Association, 10 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701, see www.diabetes.org