Richard J. Curran

Richard J. Curran

1936 – 2022

Fort Myers, FL – Richard Joseph Curran, 85, passed away on February 2, 2022, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Dementia.  Dick was born in Ludlow, MA on April 29, 1936, the adopted son of  Patrick Joseph and Irene (Owens) Curran.  He grew up in West Springfield, MA where he attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School.  He graduated at the age of 16 from the Cranwell Preparatory School in Lenox, MA, class of ’52 and went to The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, class of ‘56.  He continued his education at the New England Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in Boston, class of ‘57. Mr. Curran, Mr. C, Richard, Rich, Richie, Dick, Dickie, Digger, whatever name you liked to call him, was a caring, compassionate man to those he served at the family-owned Curran-Jones Funeral Homes in West Springfield, Agawam and the former Edward F. Day Funeral Home in Holyoke, MA.  After working 43 years in funeral service and serving his community, Dick retired in 1999, moving to Fort Myers, FL.  His many professional and civic accomplishments during his lifetime included: Director and President of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, installed in 1991 and being the first President elected from Western Mass in 28 years; Policy Board Member of the National Funeral Directors Association; Chairman of the National Selected Morticians; Third National Bank of Hampden County Advisory Board; Corporator of Westfield Savings Bank; President of West Springfield's Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Men's Club, and Pioneer Valley Automobile Club of Springfield (AAA); West Springfield-Agawam Lodge of Elks Charter Member and first Treasurer, Director and Trustee of Springfield's Taxpayers' Association; Director of the Better Business Bureau of Western MA; Director of Joint Civic Agencies of Greater Springfield; Honorary Director of the Eastern States Exposition; Blue Ribbon Award - Western Fairs Association; and Brightside for Families & Children; Trustee and General Chairman for Bishop Maguire's Brightside Golf Tournament for many years, raising thousands of dollars for those in need. Dick was also a member of West Springfield's UNICO Chapter, Dante Club, Knights of Columbus Unity Council 2212, Ramapogue Historical Society; Tuesday Club and 100 Club of MA; the Triangle Club of Holyoke; Mr. & Mrs. Club of First Baptist Church, Agawam; Sanibel Shell Club, Sanibel, FL; Springfield Country Club, West Springfield, MA and Fiddlesticks Country Club, Fort Myers, FL. While living his retirement years at Fiddlesticks he served on the Highlands Condo Association Security Committee and was very proud of being Player of the Year in 2002.  Being an avid golfer, he had six Holes-in-One during his lifetime.  Dick was honored to be part of a delegation of mortuary science professionals from the United States who were invited by The People’s Republic of China to tour five cites (Shanghai, Beijing, Zain, Guangzhou, & Hong Kong) and conduct exchanges with Chinese professionals during their 14-day stay. He and his wife, Brenda, were among the nine couples on the Exchange in 1988.  Other travels included celebrating his 70th birthday driving around Ireland and visiting Saint Andrews in Scotland and sailing back to the U.S. on the Queen Mary.  Besides his love of golf, Dick was a huge Red Sox baseball fan, attending their Spring Training games in Fort Myers.  He was also a Hartford Whalers (Hartford, CT.), Everblades (Fort Myers, FL), and Springfield Indians (Springfield, MA) fan, having season tickets to all the games over the years.  Ask him a sports question and he could answer it.  He leaves his wife of 37 years, Brenda H. (Pickering),  his three children from his first marriage: Donna Stock of Grafton, MA, Dianne Curran Thompson and her husband Jim of Westminster, MD., Joe Curran and his wife Gia of West Springfield, MA., step-daughter Audra Salazar and her husband , Luis of Santa Clarita, CA., twelve grandchildren and a great granddaughter.  Thank you to all the staff at Cypress Point in Fort Myers, FL. and Geer Village in Canaan, CT. for the loving, compassionate care they provided him. Visiting hours will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home, Saturday, Feb. 12th beginning at 10:30am and concluding with a funeral home service at noon.  For more information or online condolences please visit curranjones.com.  Memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s name to: Alzheimer’s Association National Processing Center, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.