Richard R. DiPaola of Yarmouthport passed on from this life on October 26, 2022. Born in Boston, Richard was the youngest of five children from first generation Italian immigrants, Nicholas and Nicholina DiPaola. He graduated from Merrimack College, and later went on to graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he turned his focus towards Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Over the course of his professional career, Richard was part of the team that developed the navigational system for Apollo 11’s first mission to the moon. He went on to spend many years as a division head at The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, all the while teaching various levels of Physics next door at MIT. Later on, Richard became a leading consultant in the field of nanotechnology at its inception.
Upon retirement, Richard divided his days between the natural beauty of Cape Cod, the mountain wilderness of New Hampshire, and the warm weather of Delray Beach, FL. He was also finally able to spend more time enjoying his true passions such as playing music, riding motorcycles, and traveling new frontiers. He shared these memorable experiences with his loving companion and wife, Kitty DiPaola, as well as many members of her extended family.
Richard took an involved interest in everything and everyone who crossed his path. As introspective as he could find himself in the scientific realm, his true joy came from his kind and loving relationships he held with all of the people and animals shared in his and Kitty’s lives. Richard will be missed by all that knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his memory towards:
Grace Chapel Assembly of God
PO Box 625
So. Wellfleet, MA 02663
Currently, there are no formal funeral services planned, but a celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17