Member of U.S. Army Hockey Team, active in church, KofC
ATKINSON, N.H — Donald J. “Don” Richardson, 78, a resident of Atkinson since 1975, died peacefully on Friday, August 6, 2021, at High Point Hospice House in Haverhill, Mass., with his devoted and loving wife by his side.
Born in Winchester, Mass., a son of the late Elwood and Carrie (Connelly) Richardson and the seventh of their eight children, he lost his mother at the age of 10 and his father four years later, and was raised in North Reading. His older brothers and sisters were always there for him as well as his many friends who became like family to him. He was a member of the North Reading High School Class of 1961 where he was a member of the varsity hockey team.
Following graduation, Don joined the U.S. Army and served as a Specialist 5 and Ordinance Specialist at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. He was also a member of the U.S. Army Hockey Team. Stationed in France, he traveled all over Europe as a member of the team. He was honorably discharged in 1964 and was awarded the Sharpshooter Medal.
Don married Maria T. Pellegrino in 1967 and they settled first in Lynnfield before moving to Atkinson 46 years ago. He was employed as a machinist at General Electric, and later worked as a salesman, specializing in wood trusses, for Romaro Structures. He served as Vice-President of New England Sales and later was in charge of sales in the Canadian Provinces.
A former member of Holy Angels Parish of Plaistow, N.H., serving as a CCD teacher and later as an RCIA instructor, most recently Don and his wife have been members of Saint Anne’s Parish of Hampstead, N.H. A Fourth Degree member of the Saint Jude Council of the Knights of Columbus, he was a Past Grand Knight and also a member of Bishop Peterson Assembly of Salem, N.H. He also served as a former State Membership Chairman and former State Program Director.
Don enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years. He was a fan of all New England sports teams and was a longtime member of Over 40 men’s hockey leagues. He also enjoyed playing golf for many years, taking part in local tournaments.
Predeceased in 2006 by his loving daughter, Lisa M. Richardson, Don will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Maria T. (Pellegrino) Richardson; two sons, Derek Richardson and his wife Renee of New Milford, Conn., and Joseph Richardson of Atkinson, N.H. and California; a sister, Lillian Martin of North Reading, Mass., and two grandchildren, Aiden and Elias Richardson, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his five brothers, Elwood, Herbert, Robert, Charles and William Richardson and a sister, Marion (Richardson) Wiersema.
Relatives and friends attended Don’s Life Celebration on Monday, August 16 at the Brookside Chapel and Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, N.H. His funeral was held Tuesday morning from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Anne’s Church, Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, N.H. Burial with Military Honors followed in Holy Angels Cemetery, Plaistow, N.H.
To send a message of condolence to the family or to share a precious memory, please visit: www.brooksidechapelfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
