Rich was born to Manuel and Amelia daCruz in Taunton, Mass., where he graduated from high school in 1970. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served proudly for 26 years, retiring in 1996, as a Senior Master Sergeant at Onizuka Air Force Station. He also served at U.S. military installations Randolph, Keesler, Rickenbacker, McDill, Langley, Clear, Hickam, Hanscom, and Edwards. He continued to serve his country as a civil service employee for the Department of Defense at Peterson Air Force Base from 2001 to 2021 as their Training Administrator. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix in 2002.
Rich was a brave and quiet man. He was happiest when spending time with his wife, playing with his dogs and cats, and puttering around the house. His passions included the Denver Broncos, the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, his family, and his fur babies. Rich’s hobbies included walking his dogs, tending to plants and his yard, watching sports, his ‘60 Chevy, reading the newspaper, hiking at the Air Force Academy, and attending Academy football games. He also enjoyed trains and traffic cams. He had a green thumb and enjoyed growing trees and other plants. Rich had a collection of 73 clocks, and it took entire days to reset the times to accommodate time changes. He fought cancer with everything he had for seven years.
In addition to Ann Marie, Rich is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Dawn daCruz, and his young grandsons Carson and Connor, all of Rosamond, Calif.; his sister, Mary Ann Buck, of East Freetown, Mass.; and his cherished pets, Rylee, Lucky, Bo, and Smudge.
No services will be held. Donations in Rich’s memory may be made to A Living Tribute, Pikes Peak Humane Society (animal shelter), or the American Cancer Society. If friends wish to send a commemorative gift to his wife, Rich would have preferred something practical, such as a restaurant gift certificate (rather than flowers).
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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