Richard Anthony Letendre

Richard A. Letendre, 83, a lifelong resident of Feeding Hills, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, January 23, 2023. Born November 9, 1939 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Rick was the son of the late Sylvio and Irene (Ducharme) Letendre. He was a 1957 graduate of Agawam High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1961 from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. While attending St. Mike’s, Rick met the love of his life, Susan Eddy, at a beach party on Lake Champlain in the spring of ‘61 and they married on the Fourth of July in 1964. Rick always told Susan that she got the catch of ’64. Rick spent his entire career at MassMutual, working in disability claim examiner and management roles for over 35 years. Rick was the quintessential family man. He was raised in a large, loving, extended family and instilled those values in his daughters. Frequent family gatherings were filled with lots of laughter, good food and occasional shenanigans. Beginning in the early ‘70s, Rick took his family on annual summer vacations to Kingsbury Beach in North Eastham on Cape Cod, where eventually the same five or six families gathered every year for fun times together. After fifteen years at the Cape, Rick and Susan bought a small summer place, closer to home and nearer to Susan’s family, in Narragansett, Rhode Island, where they enjoyed decades of seasonal rest and relaxation. For several years, before health issues struck Susan, they spent each March in Venice, Florida to escape New England winters and visit with other family vacationing in Sarasota. When Rick was home he enjoyed quiet days and nights reading, doing crossword puzzles, and feeding the backyard birds during winter. Rick adored his two grandchildren and was an all-around terrific Grampy. Rick is survived by his daughter Kristin Letendre and son-in-law John Reek of Bristol, CT, daughter Lisa (Letendre) Kempter and son-in-law Karl of Tolland, CT, and grandson Colin McManus of Crested Butte, CO. Rick was predeceased by his loving wife Susan (Eddy) Letendre, granddaughter Kelly McManus, siblings Louise Letendre, Edward Letendre and wife Theresa (Casanova) Letendre, Ellen (Letendre) Plageman and husband Robert Plageman, Kathleen Letendre and Timothy Letendre, as well as brothers- and sisters-in law (Ann) Nancy (Eddy) Samek, Carol (Eddy) Shunney and husband Charles Shunney, Ellen (Eddy) Bibeault, Augustine (Gus) Eddy II, Robert Eddy, and nephew John Bibeault. Rick also is survived by brothers-in-law Joseph Samek Jr., (John) Ronald Bibeault, and 18 nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be private. In lieu of flowers consider donations in Rick’s memory to a charity of choice.