Richard Dillon McCusker died peacefully on September 21st, one day after his 83rd birthday.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Mary (nee Phillips) of 54 years (55 years next month), his son Caleb and wife Jeanie (nee Poland) of Magnolia, Texas and his son Neal and wife Rory (nee McKernan) of Roslindale. He was the cherished Pa of Claire, Caleb and Cooper of Texas and Kane and Callan of Roslindale - he loved telling them jokes and teaching them magic tricks. He is predeceased by his siblings, Noreen, Charlie, Michael, James, Brian and Kevin McCusker and sisters-in-law Patricia, Josie and Barbara, and is survived by his brother Thomas McCusker of Westwood, his sister Patricia Bailey and her husband Peter of West Roxbury, his sister Roseanne (Poey) Scanlan and husband Paul of Roslindale. HIs sister-in-law Linda McCusker of Walpole; his sister-in-law Roberta McCusker of Westwood and sister-in-law Barbara Watson of South Carolina. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.

Richard was raised on Centre Street in Roslindale with his nine siblings, the seventh child of Tom and Nora. He graduated from Roslindale High School in 1962 and attended Boston State College. Richard served in the Navy on the USS Putnam from 1962 to 1966 and loved showing off his crossed anchor tattoo.

He worked at various jobs - many in the restaurant business, even one selling radio advertising - before he worked for the MBTA on the Red Line for over 20 years, coming home every day with a new story. He never turned down overtime and had a very strong work ethic that he passed onto his sons.

In 1971 he married the love of his life Mary and they eventually lived in a house built in 1892 that they extensively rehabbed. It had been empty for 10 years and they turned the “the haunted house” into a beautiful home in a wonderful neighborhood where they raised their children and lived together for 46 years. Their renovation won the Charlestown Savings Bank “That’s My House” home improvement award for Roslindale.

Richard brought a lot of laughter into the world and loved making people laugh. When Keith, his mailman of many years, heard he had passed, his first reaction was “He was a funny, funny guy.” Mary says he was the funniest man she ever met - at their first meeting he had her convinced he was the ice cream man crashing the party. Above all he loved getting together with family and friends where all enjoyed his remarkable and unique sense of humor. He never missed a McCusker family gathering and loved it the times when the McCusker Labor Party was held at Centre Street. He and Mary did almost all of their traveling between Boston and Texas. All of the Texas grandkids were baptized at Holy Name Church in West Roxbury, followed by a big party at Ashfield Street with pork butts and brisket from Texas. There were memorable vacations with all the family in Marshfield and on the Cape. Richard and Mary took one big trip to Ireland where they visited Northern Ireland and he left a Kennedy half dollar on the post of the family land in Fermanagh He attended every practice and game he could to watch his sons and grandchildren. He loved playing games and excelled at Jeopardy, Rummicub - any game

requiring an extensive memory, quick thinking and a very competitive spirit. He loved his dogs, especially Mo and Flic and now Moxie who visited him every day in the nursing home.

He enjoyed and played hockey, golf and handball with his friend Barry at the Y. He loved working around the house. Richard was a collector and left an amazing collection of tools and yard tools and coins. He also left an extensive collection of the Three Wise Monkeys and took pleasure in collecting and gifting them. When he first got an air fryer no one left the house without a freshly cooked serving of fries.

Richard was a generous, kind man and will be sorely missed by many but will live on in the many, many funny stories and loving memories.

The family would like to extend their thanks and heartfelt appreciation to all the caregivers at Rogerson House and Laurel Ridge Nursing Home and Care Dimensions Hospice who took such very good care of him this past year.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held in the Robert J. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre Street, West Roxbury, on Thursday, October 15 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Holy Name Church, 1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury, on Friday, October 16, at 10:00 AM.

Donations can be made in Richard’s memory to Care Dimensions Hospice www.CareDimensions.org/giving or to the charity of your choice.