Richard duPont

LENOX -- Richard duPont, 81, formerly of Lenox, died Thursday at Great Barrington Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He had suffered from Lewy body dementia, a degenerative illness.

Born in Lee on June 26, 1926, son of Frank J. and Anna Duffy duPont, he was a 1940 graduate of St. Mary's School, a 1944 graduate of Lee High School and attended the former Cranwell Preparatory School in Lenox

A Navy veteran of World War II, he served from 1944 to 1946 on the USS Oklahoma City. He was in the Pacific at the time of the signing of the armistice and witnessed firsthand the bombing of Nagasaki. Nine of his parents' 12 children served in the war.

After the service, he attended the University of Miami in Florida.

Mr. duPont owned Berkshire Decorators, a painting and restoration business. He renovated and built several large homes in the Lee and Lenox area. From 1987 to 1991, he painted and restored the residence of the American ambassador to Moscow and the American Embassy in Moscow, and the American embassies of Bucharest, Romania, of Budapest, Prague, and of Luxembourg. During the 1960s, he worked for Raymond International, building bridges in Liberia and West Africa.

He also painted for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. He used old painting techniques taught to him by his father to restore 17th-century homes mainly in the Boston area.

In 1970, Mr. duPont established the Junior Football League in Lee and coached until 1977. His 1970 team was undefeated and won the county championship. In 1973, he took his team to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for an exhibition game, which it won. He also was an accomplished bridge player.

For many years, he divided his time between the Berkshires and his home in Englewood, Fla.

He and his wife, the former Yvonne D. Hillmaye, were married June 14, 1952.

Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Stephen C. duPont of Fayetteville, Fla.; two daughters, Laura Smith of Salisbury, Conn., and Charlene Bartini of Lee; a sister, Rosemary Laughlin of Lee; and 13 grandchildren. Another son, Richard L. DuPont, died in August 2006.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Richard duPont, who died Thursday, July 12, 2007, will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Lee, followed by cremation. Visiting hours will be private and for the family. Friends wishing may make donations to HospiceCare in the Berkshires or to Elder Services of Berkshire County, both in care of Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238. Mr. duPont also leaves his children's spouses, Procter Smith, Kevin Bartini and Cathy duPont; 13 grandchildren, Charles, Leighton and Nellie Smith, Michael, Lauren, Ryan, Adam, Justin, Trevor, Parker and Taylor duPont, and Kevin and Kristen Bartin; his best friend, Paul Kelly; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers Roland, Thomas, Francis, Kenneth, Robert, George and Paul; his sisters, Lt. Col. Aileen duPont, Isabel Galt and Doris Ann Norwood; and two grandsons, Andrew J. Bartini in 1999 and Richard M. duPont in 2005.