Richard W. Trepsas

Rich, as those who loved him called him, was born in Boston on October 7, 1950, to William and Rita (née Alcaraz) Trepsas, middle child to Linda and William Jr. His parents, both orphans, worked hard to provide opportunity for their children, who all graduated from college. Growing up, Rich excelled at Stoughton High and earned a scholarship to study at Wesleyan where he double majored in Spanish and Sociology and studied abroad in Madrid. Rich later earned an MBA at Harvard. He worked at Norton Company in Worcester, spinning tunes as a volunteer DJ at WCUW. In the 80s, he followed work to San Diego. After a stint in Baja and years back east, he returned in 2010.

Rich was happiest in San Diego; he hated Boston winters. For the last 14 years of his life, health issues limited his travels. Fortunately, he found home in City Heights and became friends with his neighbor Betty, who often had him over for dinner and football. His niece, Kathleen, enjoyed lunches with her uncle when they overlapped for a year in San Diego. Even in the San Diego sunshine, Rich was still very Boston—especially in his love for the Patriots. During his Boston years, he would take the train to Harvard Square and enjoy a meal and a Guinness at Grendel’s Den, then stroll through the Harvard Coop. He enjoyed chats with his niece Tara on rides up to Keene for holidays.

Having been laid off during the 1980s economic downturn and having struggled to find work, including during the Great Recession, Rich nonetheless confronted his economic and health challenges with an upbeat attitude. He found joy in the simple things: afternoons sitting outside his casita soaking up the sun with the Sunday NY Times, Patriots games, his beloved Ocean Beach. While he didn’t have much money, Rich was the kind of guy who would offer his spare dollar bill to someone asking for help.

When reflecting on the question “who are you today” for his 50-year college reunion bio, Rich wrote: “I am the person that has been forged by my experiences and the many angels in my life.” Rich was thankful for his blessings and said, “May I use those gifts I have received and pass on the love that has been given to me” as part of a daily prayer.

Rich is survived by his sister Linda and her husband Peter; his brother William Jr and his wife, Olga; his niece Kathleen and her husband Rahul; his niece Tara and her husband Dave; his nephew Christopher; and his two grandnieces Alexandra and Elsa.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 25 at 11 am at St. Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene, NH. Burial will follow at St Joseph Cemetery, Lower Main Street, Keene.