Richard Walingford Lord

Born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, “Zipper” as he was known to his friends, graduated from Newton High School in 1955, and then went on to the University of Rhode Island, graduating in 1959.

Lt. Richard Lord was a proud veteran of the United States Navy. After completing Aviation Officer Candidate in Pensacola, he was commissioned as an Ensign, then attended Navy Flight School and earned his Pilot Wings in 1960. In 1965, Lt. Lord completed his active duty commitment at Naval Air Transport Squadron Three. He voluntarily continued to serve on Active Duty in the Naval Reserve until 1972, when he received his final Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy.

In the summer of 1961, while on leave from his duties of flying C-130 Hercules aircraft from McGuire AFC, he went on a blind date in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Dick’s intended date took a look at him and feigned illness; fortunately, Layla Miller was made of stiffer stuff and took her place. They hit it off, obviously, since they married on 11/23/1962, and enjoyed 60 years together, and were quite a team.

Dick was a commercial airline pilot for TWA, a 30+ year “job” that he loved. He was often heard to remark, after a day at home shingling the house or chopping wood, or trimming trees at his Lord’s Tree Farm: “I can’t wait to go back to work so I can finally get some rest!”

Dick and Layla have two daughters, Nancy and Lauri. Dick passed on to them his love of skiing, sailing, steamers and Tidy Bowl Margaritas.

Dick joined the Hopkinton Fire Department in 1971. He was a firefighter as long as he could be, then he drove a truck as long as he could do that, then he ran the annual Lobster Cookout for the Department for as long as he could and when that was too much for him, he became the biggest fan, supporter and patron of the HFD right up until 12/7/22. Days before he died, Dick remarked that the “Hopkinton Fire Department is one heck of a fraternity, one that I am very proud to be a part of!”

Dick leaves his wife of 60 years, Layla Miller Lord, as well as daughter Nancy (Wickwire) and son in law Andrew of Manchester NH, daughter Lauri (Waldron) and son in law Kevin of Darien, CT, and his four grandkids. Dick was Grampa/Papa to Eddie Wickwire (Strive U ’18), Layla Wickwire (Boston University ’20), Connor Waldron (Holy Cross ’20) and Meaghan Waldron (Bates College ’21). Uncle Zipper had an especially close and special relationship with his “Ruddy Relations”: Jo-Ann Ruddy Peterson, her son George Peterson and his wife Sydney Smith, her daughter Zara Devarenne and her husband Joe Devarenne and nephew Mark Ruddy and his wife Cathy and son Christopher Ruddy.

“Zipper” will be missed by all, especially his friends from Newton, from URI (go Rams!), from the Navy, from TWA and by his ski buddies at Powder Mountain. He has best friends all over the place, but with the highest concentration in Contoocook, NH – to include friends and neighbors, Legion buddies, and the entire Hopkinton Fire Department Family.

Zipper Lord did something kind for everyone he ever met. If he ever met you, you know that to be true.

Calling hours are on Friday December 16, 2022 from 3:00pm – 6:00pm at Bennett Funeral Home 209 North Main Street Concord NH. Dick’s memorial service will be on Saturday December 17, 2022 at 1:00pm at the Wesley United Methodist Church 79 Clinton Street Concord, NH.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hopkinton Fire Department or to the non-profit foundation started by his grand-nephew, George Peterson, which provides healthy living resources to anyone impacted by addiction. Both of these groups were of great importance to Dick, and he would be so pleased to know they were supported in his memory.

The Jordan Hannah Recovery Group’s mission is to provide the knowledge and experience of the teachings of meditation, yoga, healthy living, and diet to individuals and families impacted by addiction.

Our vision is to empower those affected by addiction through teaching them and their families healthy habits to aid in overcoming the challenges that typically accompany addiction recovery.

You can use this link for making donations:

https://www.thejordanhannahrecoverygroup.org/take-action