December 12, 1949 – June 19, 2025
Holden- Richard O’Shaughnessy, 75, affectionately known as “Ricko,” passed away peacefully at his home in Holden, surrounded by the love that defined his extraordinary life. Born on December 12, 1949, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised in Lexington as one of eight siblings, Ricko carried with him a spirit of curiosity, adventure, and joy that touched everyone he encountered.
A proud graduate of Lexington High School, where he served as class president, and Northeastern University, where he earned a degree in sports education, Ricko’s truest lessons came not from books but from nature — from the ocean’s rhythms, the silence of the forest, and the laughter of his children.
Ricko was the embodiment of early Cape Cod surf culture and the Woodstock-era ideals of love, openness, and freedom. He had what some called “Peter Pan syndrome” a boundless, youthful energy that never waned, and a heart wide open to the world. A devoted father to his two children, Colin and Emma, Ricko found his deepest purpose in parenthood. Born on his birthday, Emma was the apple of his eye, and Colin his anchor and joy. To them, he passed on his love for surfing, snowboarding, hiking, and the natural world; but more importantly, he taught them to live with compassion, curiosity, and kindness.
Surfing was Ricko’s first great love, a sacred practice that connected him to something greater. He found solace in the sea’s unpredictability, learned humility in its changing tides, and often described the lull between waves as his most honest conversations with God. The ocean wasn’t just a playground for Ricko rather it was a teacher. And it was on Cape Cod, during countless surf sessions and in the Old Timer Competitions, where he built lifelong friendships and memories that aged like sea-glass: weathered, beautiful, and treasured.
In the off seasons, Ricko turned to the land. He founded and ran Leprechaun Landscaping for over 40 years, cultivating not just gardens but relationships. And during the winter, he created a little pocket of magic through his beloved Christmas tree lot in Newton. There, he played Santa year-round handing out trees, smiles, stories, and hugs to children and adults alike. For Ricko, it wasn’t just about selling trees; it was about delivering joy.
His warmth was unmatched. Ricko never met a stranger, only future friends. He would stop to talk to anyone, always asking how they were doing, often with a joke or story ready to lighten the moment. He assumed the role of “Mayor” of Brattle Street in Holden, where he proudly owned and cared for his homestead for over 35 years. You could always find Ricko outside in his yard tending to the property or wandering to a neighbor to say hello. Every winter, he would make the infamous “Bobsled Run” in his backyard, inviting everyone over to enjoy sledding, tubing, and snowboarding.
Ricko wrote letters like others breathed, sending handwritten notes to his children, siblings, and friends as a way of saying “I love you,” one envelope at a time. He lived with an open heart and a generous spirit. Ricko believed deeply in service in helping those in need, in showing up, in lifting others with a kind word or a steady hand. To his children, he was a teacher, a guide, and a friend. To his community, he was a fixture of joy and compassion. And to everyone he met, he was a reminder of what it looks like to live fully, love fiercely, and never take life too seriously.
Richard “Ricko” O’Shaughnessy is survived by his partner Gabby, beloved daughter Emma, and by his seven cherished siblings. He was predeceased by his son Colin in 2023. Though his physical presence has left us, his love continues to ripple outward; in every wave caught, every tree planted, every act of kindness, and every story shared.
Ride on, Ricko. Your wave was beautiful, and your light still shines.
A celebration of Ricko's life will be held at a later date in October 2025 at Nordgren Funeral Home, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester. Please check this obituary in the next few weeks for the exact date and time or contact the funeral home directly. To leave an online condolence message, please click on the link.