Richard Paul Charlton

Richard (Rock) grew up in Dorchester and attended Cathedral High School where he met, Maureen, his loving wife of 63 years. He was an avid athlete during his youth playing baseball for St. Paul’s in the Boston Park league and at Cathedral High School. He graduated from Boston College where he

played both halfback/defensive back on the football team where he scored the only touchdown in a 6-0 win over then archrival Holy Cross. Rock and Maureen built lifelong friendships with his teammates and their families. He was a member of the Gridiron Club at BC. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Holabird in Baltimore in the Counterintelligence Unit. Following his Honorable discharge, he taught elementary school in Baltimore and Waltham. He was the first principal of the Lillian Jacobs School in Hull and then the Superintendent for two decades. During this time, he graduated from Northeastern University with a Doctorate in Education. He retired as Superintendent of Schools in Pawtucket, RI.

In his spare time Richard was an active member of the Boston College Club of Cape Cod and organized many away game football trips and events. He enjoyed rounds of golf on Cape Cod with his friends.

Together Richard and Maureen traveled to Ireland with family and friends through the years. He was so proud of and loved spending time with his grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Maureen (Murphy). Richard is survived by his daughter Maura Sweetnam, her husband Paul and his grandchildren Patrick and Keira of Marblehead, his siblings Mary (Charlton) Petruccelli of Yarmouth, Thomas and Anne Charlton of Braintree, his twin Dorothy (Charlton) Lovett of Milton, his sister-in-law Eileen Murphy of Hingham and his many nieces,

nephews and God-children. He is preceded in passing by his sister Alice and her husband George Kelly, his brothers-in-law Paul Lovett and Edward Petruccelli and his in-laws Eugene, George and Donald Murphy.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 1 st at 10AM, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 841 Shore Rd, Pocasset, MA 02559. Burial will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, June 1 st at 8:45AM from the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd., Bourne, MA 02532.

In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Richard can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.