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RICHARD AUGUST Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for RICHARD AUGUST
Dave Marchetti
May 28, 2025
I only recently heard of Dick's passing through his nephew Scott. I read each one of the beautiful tributes and was so moved to see how so many people took the time to share memories. It seems we all experienced the same warm and giving guy. For me he was a running mentor as he helped me make substantial strides in lowering my times in the late 70's and into the 80's. As a fellow tropical fish enthusiast we often talked about fish and I was happy he trusted me enough to look after his puppies on several occasions when he went away. I only saw him once in the past few years at one of my last road races before a hip replacement curtailed my beloved pastime but he was there to watch one of his 'students', of course. His was a life well lived and mine was enriched knowing him.
Louise Chadborne
February 14, 2025
I met him at the Oxford coin Club such a great guy very complimentary very enthusiastic about collecting you're very much missed
Kenneth Goldman
August 10, 2024
I knew Richard for well over 50 years. He visited me in my home in
Revere, MA. when I was a teenager (I am now 71!) I would greatly like to talk with his sister. If anyone has her contact, please forward to me at [email protected].
I enjoyed our conversations very much. Will miss him.
Dan Horton
August 4, 2024
Dan Horton
August 4, 2024
Dan Horton
August 4, 2024
Dan Horton
August 4, 2024
Dick was a dear friend.
He coached me to my fastest half marathon and marathon and taught me to challenge myself during training, with 1 mile repeats mid week being one of the staples. He kept a log of previous week´s times and celebrated the improvements. I throughly enjoyed the hard work. I will always remember fondly the times running on the Boulevard with Dick encouraging us to greater strength.
In addition, he spent countless hours at my home in Barrington, planting dahlias, maintaining garden beds, and inspiring the neighborhood with the beauty of the stunning colors of dahlias. We had as many as 450 tubers planted in our best year.
Thank you Dick for your kindness and generosity. Your contribution to my life has been immense.
Jeff Kierstead
August 2, 2024
I spent time with Richard at coin shows for decades and was saddened to hear of his passing. He will be missed.
Greg J. Gullotti
July 28, 2024
I knew Dick August from the coin hobby. When we discovered each other, over a strikingly similar taste in what coins we liked best, a mentor-friend-ship was born. I leaned a lot from him, and will pass it along to others. Thanks for all the great memories and conversations Dick, you will be missed. -Greg
Allen G. Berman
July 22, 2024
Richard was an institution and and intellectual resource to the numismatic world. I had known him for almost the entirety of my professional life. I would have seen him this Thursday at the Bay State show and it is strange to think that he will not be there.
Larry L
July 21, 2024
Goodbye old friend. Remembering all the runs on the Blvd.
David McConaghy
July 18, 2024
I will greatly miss Dick´s weekly visits to my shop. I had the pleasure to do business with him over the past 15+ years and he was a fixture at my store. He knew all of my kids, my wife and even our dog. We enjoyed his stories his dry wit and his knowledge of US and Latin American coins. He was always generous with his time and knowledge with my customers and me.
I will keep his memory alive and re-tell the stories that he shared with me.
Jeff and Sarajane Hall
July 18, 2024
Obituary for Richard August 5/10/40 - 7/13/24
I first met Richard at the worthy coin auction in Boston back in the 80s we shared the same interest in colonial coinage.As time went on we grew closer together as fellow numismatists and collaborators. Dick primarily worked the floor but he spent much time at my table at the shows, I would run into him at every major coin show in the country, and since we lived fairly close together we would meet for lunch almost weekly and trade coins. I'll never forget the time he called me from the road on route 495 on the freezing cold winter Sunday morning and snowing like crazy his car broke down. He was trapped and freezing. I brought him some hot clam chowder and got his car started for him, I can't count the number of times I fixed that old car that he was driving and charge his air conditioner several times.At his request I did much work for his dear friend Jeannie Hall At her house on the east side, and when the landlord of his building would not honor his request for enough heat in his apartment I went there and fixed it for him. I hooked up multiple fish tanks for him in his apartment.
Dick loved to come out to our farm it was at his inspiration that he and I planted many berries and fruit trees, my wife Sara always wanted an English country Garden and at Dick's instruction, we tore out all the mortuary bushes and clear the entire area, Sara and Dick picked out many different kinds of plants and Dick furnished us with the remaining dahlias that he had been nurturing for years which were his mothers. To this day,we continue to care for her legacy,Dick would come to our place every Sunday afternoon after the coin shows ended and worked in the garden tirelessly weeding and caring for all the plants, to the point of exhaustion he would lay down on the back porch and tell us how it reminded him of the screened in porch at his mothers house in the summertime when he would sleep out there.Then Sara would call us into the house for supper, Dick especially loved her home cooked meals,and never went home empty-handed.After supper, we would retire to my office and research and the attribute coins,Then after the sun went down Dick would drive the one hour from Sterling back to Providence.
Dick really enjoyed coming out here to the farm, I remember we had this one goose that would follow him around and no matter how he would try to shoo her away,She would never leave his side, he grew to love that gooose And he named her Adele. liked to gaze at the horses,cows,llamas and chickens Who would help Dick scratch up the dirt And weeds around the plants.He taught us many things about horticulture and we developed a keen sense of appreciation for Gardening.
Many times while Sara was preparing a meal and often baking a cake that Dick thoroughly enjoyed,we would go to SS Lobster and get them to cook us a seven or eight pounder,which we would bring back to SaraAlong with a loaf of seven grain bread which Dick liked toasted along with his lobster, this we did on multiple occasions.
My collection of coins consist largely of purchases and trades that were inspired by Dick to upgrade my collections constantly, he is responsible for the procurement of many high rarity pieces in my collection.Dick has forgotten more than I'll ever know about numismatics, he was a wealth of knowledge regarding the subject, he was a mentor, a coach, and instructor, in the world is a better place for all the benevolence of this wonderful person, Sara and I will miss him dearly,He was a part of our family.
Jeff and Sara Hall
Sterling,Mass
William Nawrocki
July 18, 2024
Richard was an extremely modest, kind and knowledgeable gentleman that one rarely has the pleasure of befriending. Our paths crossed at the Blackstone Valley, Nipmuc and Worcester County Coin Clubs. We always tried to sit together, because we both always had a running direct uncensored commentary about the proceedings. Once I asked John Frost about collecting mint error coins comparing it to a search for "unicorns". Rich turned to me without hestitation, "Will, you are savage with your questions. I like that!"
So here is to a kindred spirit who I and many others will never, ever, forget.
"Lilah tov" my dear friend.
Will Nawrocki
Douglas Spirtt (Richard's cousin)
July 17, 2024
I was very saddened to hear of Richard's passing. My prayers go out to his family and friends. He lived a good life and will be missed.
Mark F.
July 17, 2024
I met Richard; Dick at Camp Brunonia in 1960, he was my Bunk Counselor and Riflery Counselor, he was larger than life then and a great Teacher and example.
The world is much sadder without him
ROBERT LAVIANA
July 16, 2024
Enjoyed meeting Richard at the various New England coin shows, his expertise was one of the best...fair trading as well...He left a permanent mark in the industry.
Victor Urbano
July 16, 2024
Very sad news! Mr. August was a very nice person, very knowledgeable, and a great numismatist. We would talk very often about the coins we have added to our collections, and meet in some big shows. He gave me great advices, and always shared knowledge and numismatics stories from years back. I will miss him a lot. Mr. August will always be remembered as a great person and numismatist. Rest In Peace my friend.
Victor Urbano
July 16, 2024
Very sad news. Mr. August was a very nice person, very knowledgeable, and a great numismatist. We would talk very often about the coins we added to our collections, he had a great eye and knowledge. Mr. August would always give me advices, and share numismatics stories from many years back. I will miss him greatly. Mr. August will be truly missed, and will always be remembered. Rest In Peace my friend!
Joe Sullivan
July 16, 2024
I got to know Dick in the late 70's when I ran for the Johnson and Wales Athletic Club. He was kind and knowledgeable mentor and coach of me for several years. He used to call me up to discuss my training and performances. I was a fairly shy person and I always appreciated that he took a personal interest in me and in my development as a runner. He always impressed me as very intelligent, and I knew he collected coins, bred fish, and gardened. He was a dedicated runner too and always stayed up to date on the running world. I remember he had some impressive performances as a runner in his age group. I have worked for about 20 years now at Eastside Marketplace and would see him there often. He would stop to chat when he was doing his shopping. It was always fun to discuss training methods and people he was coaching. I am sorry for your loss, but I hope you will take comfort in knowing that he lived a good life and was good to others, and that he left others with many fond memories of him.
John LePage
July 16, 2024
Dick was a real "old school" collector, one of a dying breed. He was a fixture at every coin show. I respected his numismatic knowledge. I enjoyed listening to his stories about famous numismatists of the past that he knew personally. I will miss seeing him at shows.
Bob Hess
July 16, 2024
I met Dick August at the Oxford coin club several years back. He, Chuck and Bill would commute up from Rhode Island, and the four of us usually sat together eating a meal and discussing everything under the sun but especailly coins. He was always ready with a story to share or a helpful bit of advice to give.
I learned so much from Dick! When he found out that I was a fellow Calculus teacher, he asked me about my career, my students, and what I was currently teaching. Once, I had a difficult Calc problem that I had given to my students and then got stuck trying to best explain how to solve it. Dick went home, thought about it that night, then went to bed. He woke up the next morning with the answer all worked out in his mind and contacted me! Now Dick had not taught Calculus for maybe 15 years (maybe more?) but this brilliant man came up with the correct result!
Dick was such a humble man. Many in our club did not know that he was a recognized expert numismatist and had his name listed in the front of the Guide Book of US Coins (aka the "Redbook") but when he gave talks on New England Colonial Coins and Currency -- it was crystal clear!
There is a saying that "when God created someone, He broke the mold." That is definitely true in this case! There will never be another Dick August. He was a beloved member of our coin club, and I will personally miss him. My prayers and condolences to all of Dick's family.
Nathan
July 16, 2024
I bonded with Richard over our love of coin collecting. I always looked forward to seeing him and he always had some great stories to share. Wvery coin show I walked into, Richard was the first person I would be looking for. I will miss you.
Ronnesia
July 16, 2024
Dick helped get me settled into Rhode Island when I moved here several years ago. Running has always been a staple part of my life and identity. And in that first year living in a completely new area, Dick coaching me as part of a local running and racing team was a lifesaver. I am forever thankful that I had the opportunity to interface and get to know him. He also planted rose bushes and several other flowers outside of my new home when I first moved in. He volunteered his time both as a coach and a helpful gardener. I will miss him.
Louise Chadborne
July 16, 2024
I am so very sorry for your loss. I only knew him for a short period of time through the Oxford coin club. He was very kind, very smart knowledgeable. Also, when I would bring a ricotta pie, he would love that, he'd have a big smile on his face. Rest in Peace Dick
Louise Chadborne
Tyler DiPietro
July 15, 2024
Richard was a very nice man, who I as a 21 year old young man Tyler DiPietro bought at least one, probably more coins from at the Oxford Coin Club! Enjoy Heaven Dick, and my prayers are with the family!
Spleen Eck
July 15, 2024
I've known Richard for many years, seeing him as one of the early birds, several times per month, at various coin shows. He was always eager to share his numismatic knowledge. But it was more than coins. When he found out that I was a runner with a few running injuries, he showed me several ways to cure these aches & pains. And now, past the age of 50, I am still running regularly and thankfully without pain(!) Will miss seeing you Richard. I hope your journey continues to spark that wonder, excitement and eagerness, that you were known for.
Kelly and Paul Savickas
July 15, 2024
My husband and I were coached by "Coach August" as we fondly called him. He coached us both for about 10 years and grew to be a wonderful friend and life mentor. Both him and my husband, Paul,had a great love for math, running, gardening and debating. They would often debate over running times, training plans and gardening strategies, amonst many other things. Coach August was the best Coach I have ever had. He encouraged me and believed in me even when I did not believe in myself. He coached us to be better runners then either of us ever thought we could be. He helped us in our garden and shared his dahlias and zinnias with us, as well as his time and energy weeding our garden. He encouraged and motivated people to be better in all aspects of life. He will always hold a special place in our hearts and we will cherish the things he taught us for years to come.
The Leonardos
July 15, 2024
I like to say Coach August kidnapped me and pressed me into service as a long distance runner in 2017. We were neighbors in Providence. He wore me down as he watered his tomatoes, asking me a half dozen times before I finally relented, if I would consider doing some running workouts with him and a small group he trained on Elmgrove avenue. I was hooked after the first session, and returned twice a week for several years. I´m forever grateful for his loyalty, dedication, and the belief he had in me, guiding me to achieve things in the sport that I never, ever, would have believed possible for me.
In 2020 he helped to design, weed, and plant a beautiful garden at my grandmother´s house so that she could have an outdoor space to enjoy and greet family in during the difficult isolations of that time. He likewise dedicated countless hours, seeds and bulbs to beautify my yard when I later purchased my first home.
More recently he would join my wife and I for dinners at our home, always followed by our favorite card game High Low Jack. He would bring dozens of classical music records each visit for us to listen to one-by-one in search of a single song he wanted us to hear. The kicker is we don´t own a record player! It was just easiest for him to bring the hard copies and have us shout the titles out for our Alexa device to play. It´s a silly anecdote, but illustrates well how practical (and stubborn!) his brilliant mind could be. We´ll cherish memories like this think of him often in our garden!
John Ferreri
July 15, 2024
I have known Dick for at least 50 years. We both had similar interests in the collecting hobby. We often spoke about each other's collecting interests and Dick let me "show" him how to put Powerpoint presentations together so he could present them at club meetings. I will miss his frequent calls and visits!
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