Richard T. "Dick" Coleman

Richard T. Coleman, 88, of Holyoke passed away on May 20, 2021. He was born at home on December 17, 1932 in Belmont, Mass., the son of the late Francis A. & Bertha C. (Lynch) Coleman. He attended the J. S. Kendall school in Belmont until the family moved to the next town of Arlington where he continued his elementary school education at the Hardy School. He then graduated from St. John The Evangelist High School in North Cambridge. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College. While in college, he worked nights at New England Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Following his graduation, Dick joined the Massachusetts Bonding & Insurance Company in various positions, stationed in Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, and New York City. In 1965, he moved to Holyoke, Mass. and joined the Tecnifax Corporation as an accountant. In 1971, he joined his brother Frank, Jr. in the accounting practice of Coleman & Company, where he continued until his retirement in 2001. He was a licensed Notary Public for the State of Massachusetts and an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service. 

He was active in local organizations: He was a student Advisor for Junior Achievement; a former member of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce where he served on the Façade Improvement Committee; he was a former Treasurer of The Holyoke Street School; a former member of the Board of Directors of the Holyoke Visiting Nurses Association; a Past President of the Holyoke-Chicopee Area Board of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; he was a member of the Board of Directors of The Friends of the Holyoke Public Library. Since 1968, he has been a member of the Holyoke Kiwanis Club where he was a Past President and a Past Lieutenant Governor, as well as editor of the club’s newsletter for over 43 years.

Dick was a vociferous reader and puzzle solver. He and Nancy enjoyed travelling to faraway places like Hawaii, Vienna, Monaco, Caribbean cruises and trips to the casino. He loved his many nieces and nephews, and enjoyed visiting them and their families. One of his proudest moments was when he was allowed to officiate at the wedding of his grand-niece Katie Coleman.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Frank A., Jr. in 1977, Robert H. in 1996, and his sister Jocelyn A. (Coleman) Gately in 2005; his sisters-in-law: Elizabeth Coleman, Mary Joan Coleman and Nancy Brown Newell, and his brother-in-law Laurence Gately, and his faithful companion Fido who enjoyed going for a ride in the car with him every day. He is survived by his loving wife Nancy R. (Newell) Coleman whom he married Sept. 11, 1971, many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews and great-grand-nieces and nephews, to each of whom he was affectionately known as “Uncle Dickie,” and his brothers-in-law Douglas (Anna-Mae) Newell and Charles (Susan) Boyer.

Calling hours will be held Saturday May 29 at 10 AM at Our Lady of the Cross Church on Holy Cross Avenue in Holyoke, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM at the church. Burial will be June 5 in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington, MA.   Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home in Holyoke is assisting the family. Contributions in Dick's memory may be made to Our Lady of the Cross Parish, 15 Maple St., Holyoke, MA 01040.

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