Born in Swampscott June 7, 1940, he was the son of the late Ovid M. Cerone and Clara (Coculo) Cerone. He grew up in Lynn and graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1958. Following his graduation, he served 3 years active duty in the U.S. Army, followed by three years of reserve duty. He was discharged in 1964. After returning to Lynn he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and two Masters Degrees from Salem State College. He moved to Amesbury in 1995.
He began teaching in Lynn in 1971 at Eastern Junior High School. He later taught at Lynn Classical and ended his career teaching PE at the elementary level. He retired from the Lynn school system in 2004.
Dick also had a long career in coaching. He was a founder of the first Pop Warner football program in Lynn in the early 1960’s and served as Head Coach of the West Lynn team from its inception until 1968. His 1963 and 1967 West Lynn squads were league champions. He then served as an Assistant football coach at St. Mary’s of Lynn, Lynn Classical and Salem High School. In 1983 he returned to Classical as the Head Football Coach, serving in that capacity for three years. Following his stint at Classical he accepted a position as an assistant coach at Tufts University. He finished his football career as an assistant at Triton High School in Byfield. In addition to coaching football Dick also served as Head Softball Coach at Classical and coached in the Greater Lynn Babe Ruth Baseball League for a number of years, first as an assistant and then as Head Coach of the PLAV Post #56 13-15 year-old team.
Dick was an avid college football fan and was a lifelong University of Texas fan. In addition to enjoying football he was a history and politics buff and enjoyed reading non-fiction. He also was a regular at Andyman’s Coffee Shop in Amesbury.
He leaves two sons, Dick Cerone and his wife Janice of Stratford, CT, and Steven Cerone and his wife Patricia of Richmond, VA, along with a daughter, Michele Cerone of Peabody. He is also survived by a sister, Barbara Palma of Tucson, AZ, 6 grandchildren, Mike, Tianna, Abby, Taylor, Drew and Trevor Cerone, and a great-grandson, Aiden Cerone, as well as two nieces, Jackie Curran and Shealgh Carr. He was the father of the late Peter and Susan Cerone and the brother of the late Ovid and Thomas Cerone.
Friends and family are invited to attend his funeral on Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street, Lynn and at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Church. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Holy Family Church, 21 Bessom Street, Lynn, MA 01902.
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