Richard Rafferty

Richard R. Rafferty VIRGINIA BEACH - Richard R. Rafferty 85, passed away Dec. 31, 2010, in a Norfolk hospital. He was born to the late George and Helena Rafferty in Chelmsford, Mass. He was the youngest of 12 children and is survived by his sister, Rosemary Dutney. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After graduating from Merrimack College, he worked as a civilian agent with naval intelligence. He then had a long and distinguished career with the FBI and retired as a supervisory special agent and was a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. After retiring from the FBI, he was an assistant administrator at Portsmouth General Hospital. He was a member of St. Gregory the Great Men's Club, the Knights of Columbus and was an avid golfer. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Eleanor and his daughters, Beth Rafferty, Caty Rafferty, Ellen Fish and Mary Farashahi; sons-in-law, Andy Fish and Afshin Farashahi; and grandchildren, Ryan Fish, Megan Fish, Nadia Farashahi and Anita Farashahi who worshiped him. A Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday at Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach. A reception will follow the Mass and the burial will be private. The family will receive friends at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, Monday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.. The family is asking in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Gregory the Great Catholic School Endowment Fund or The Food Bank of South Eastern Virginia. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.