Richard H. Gavoor

Official Obituary of Richard Haig (Dick) Gavoor
December 7, 1930 - March 10, 2026 (age 95)

Richard Haig (Dick) Gavoor of New Providence, NJ and formerly of Summit, NJ and Vero Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Priscilla (Perkins), his three children: Susan Margaret Gavoor Delaney (Mike) of Kiawah Island, SC, Robin of Murphys, CA, and David of Summit, NJ as well as his three grandchildren: Matthew Delaney, Timothy Delaney (Andrea Goocher), and Erin Delaney.

Dick was born on December 7, 1930 in Cambridge, MA. His proud parents were Aram Gavoor, born in Keserig in the Kharpert Province of Armenia and Haigouhi (Agnes) Asoian Gavoor of Andover, MA. He had an older sister, Seeran A. Wisner, and an older brother, Aram Martin Gavoor, both of whom predeceased him.

Dick grew up in Watertown, MA and was a student in the Watertown Public Schools from kindergarten through high school. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1948 where he excelled in basketball and made fond memories with his fellow students. He was beloved by his friends for his loyal nature and sense of humor.

After high school, Dick took a job and enrolled in night courses at Bentley College, graduating with a two-year degree.

He was then off to the Army and the great gift of Dick’s life: the GI Bill. This allowed him to attend Tufts University in Medford, MA, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Economics. Dick was an exceptional student, a standout on the indoor and outdoor track teams and a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, which he loved. It was at Tufts that Dick met the love of his life, Priscilla.

Dick lived the American Dream.

Born into meager circumstances to a first generation Armenian American and a second generation Armenian American at the onset of the Great Depression, he rose to become a success in every way imaginable. His first job after Tufts was with Nabisco where he spent the vast majority of his career (26 years) and rose to levels he never could’ve imagined. During the tail end of his time there, he received an Advanced Management Program degree from Harvard Business School and was posted to London, England for a two-year stint. This turned out to be a great adventure for he and Priscilla as they hosted innumerable friends from the states and traveled liberally throughout Europe.

Dick was athletically gifted and took great pride in staying fit, working out daily until this became impossible. His primary athletic pursuits were tennis and golf at the Summit Tennis Club, Canoe Brook Country Club (Summit) and Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club. (Vero Beach). He relished competition but was first, and foremost, a gracious sportsman.

He was a passionate and knowledgeable sports fan throughout his life and followed his beloved hometown Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots religiously.

Dick’s great love and his pride and joy was his family and he was eternally devoted to it. Known as “Pop Pop” to his three adoring grandchildren, he would constantly regale friends with stories of their most recent academic, professional and personal accomplishments. Dick was a person defined by love, kindness, sweetness, sensitivity, gregariousness and a great sense of humor. To know him was to love him…literally. His passing leaves a void that can never be filled but his legacy will live on in all who knew him. He will forever be remembered as a devoted family man, a treasured friend and a true gentleman.