Richard K. Hawes Jr.

Born in Fall River, a son of the late Attorney Richard K. Hawes Sr. and Genevieve (Chase) Hawes, he spent his youth in Fall River moving to Westport Harbor at the age of ten.

A distinguished area Attorney, he began practicing law in association with his father in 1947 in the Fall River National Bank Building, retiring in 1986.

He attended the Westminster and Pomfret Schools in Connecticut was a graduate of Yale University, Class of 1939 and the University of Virginia Law School, class of 1946.

He was a past president, secretary and treasurer of the Acoaxet Club where he had been a member since 1926 at the age of 10. An enthusiastic Yachtsman, he skippered his Concordia Sloop, “SALTWIND” throughout the Buzzards Bay and Maine waters for many years. He was a member of the Cruising Club of America serving as Post Captain of the Buzzard’s Bay station for several years, and the New Bedford Yacht Club.

A longtime member of First Congregational Church while living in Fall River, he later joined the United Congregational Church in Little Compton. Atty. Hawes was involved in numerous civic activities including serving on the Westport Town Council and Finance Committee.

Atty. Hawes was a member of the Board of Directors for the former Fall River National Bank and Bank of New England N.A. South, and an incorporator and trustee for the former Fall River 5 cent Savings Bank now Bank Five.

A United States Navy Veteran having served during World War II, he was a deck officer and navigator on a destroyer in the Atlantic and Pacific. After a kamikaze hit his Destroyer killing Captain, 8 officers and 33 enlisted men, he became senior officer assuming command. He managed to complete his assignments and return his ship to safety for which he was awarded the Silver Star.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons; Richard K. “Dickie” Hawes III, and Robert Rogers Hawes and his wife Barbara all of Westport, one daughter Anne H. Gray and her husband Robert of York, Maine, two grandchildren, Heather H. Dwyer and her husband David of NY, NY, and Jillian C. Hawes of Boston, one great granddaughter Isabelle K. Dwyer of NY, NY, and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Simeon Hawes.

He had a profound love for Westport Harbor, the River, the community and the cruising waters of Brooklin, Maine. He enjoyed nothing more than sailing in and around Westport Harbor with his children and grandchildren, and observing them from his boathouse deck.

His Service of Thanksgiving and Tribute will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 11:00AM in the United Congregational Church the Commons, Little Compton. Contributions in his honor may be made to the United Congregational Church P.O. Box 506 Little Compton, RI 02837 or to the Westport Historical Society 25 Drift Rd. Westport, MA 02790. Arrangements in the care of the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Cherry Place.