Richard Loren Alpert

1932 - 2016

Richard Loren Alpert

Age: 83 • South Burlington

Richard Loren Alpert, 83, of South Burlington, VT passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at his home at Allenwood Senior Living. Two weeks ago he informed his entire family of his decision to "resign from dialysis treatment", which he had been undergoing for the past eight years.

Richard was born in Burlington, VT on November 17, 1932. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1950 and from The University of Vermont in 1954.

At the age of 15 he began dating the love of his life, Shirley Dessell. They were married in Burlington on December 26, 1954. Last year they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary and 69th year together.

Richard served in the Army and was stationed in Arkansas. Prior to his deployment to Korea, Richard was honorably discharged in order to come home and run the family business, The White Bargain Store, in Winooski, which had been founded by Richard's grandfather in 1896. In 1960, Richard and Shirley moved the business to Downtown Burlington and created the successful women's clothing store, Gigi's - a junior fashion shop. Richard was witty, creative, and funny. His flare for turning an advertising slogan, drawing attention-grabbing signage, and developing interesting promotions are well known to so many loyal customers. Richard was active in several Downtown committees and was a key influencer in Church Street becoming the unique pedestrian mall that it is today. In 1989, Richard was honored with the annual Nathan Harris Award for his time and energy "maintaining and improving the economic vitality of the Burlington Central Business District." Richard and Shirley closed Gigi's and retired from retail ownership in 1989. Richard stayed involved in the Downtown scene. He worked for the Marketplace Commission managing the Bus-Park program and after that was a fixture at Macy's home goods department for many years.

Richard and Shirley were longtime residents of Shore Road in Burlington where they raised their three sons, Jeffrey, Mark and Scott. He coached Little League Baseball and loved watching and cheering at all of his sons' sporting events from their youth through high school and college. Richard was an avid Boston Celtic and Red Sox sports fan. His family meant everything to Richard. Another expression of his creativity was the rhymes, poems, and stories he would make up each and every week and enthusiastically share with his grandchildren whom he adored.

His parents, Samuel and Estyr Alpert, predeceased Richard. His wife, Shirley, and his sons Jeffrey and his former wife Beth both of South Burlington, Mark and his wife Nancy of North Andover, MA, and Scott and his wife Carlene of Andover, MA survive him. He leaves six grandchildren: Sam Alpert of Mount Vernon, NY, Rebecca Alpert of Brooklyn, NY, Eric and Matt Alpert of North Andover, MA, and Juliann and Caroline Alpert of Andover, MA. He also leaves his dear sister Sharon Rosenthal of Williston, VT, very special nieces and nephews - Ronelle Genser of Atlanta, GA, Sheri Carlsen and her husband Kyrre of Sparks, NV, Erick Genser and his wife Maureen of McLean, VA, Stuart Rosenthal of Princeton, NJ, Alayne Bruno and her husband Mike of Bomoseen, VT, Laura Wilson and her husband Jon of Apex, NC, and many more close cousins and great nieces and nephews who are dispersed across the country.

The funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 9:30 am at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 188 North Prospect Street, Burlington, VT. Burial will follow at the Hebrew Holy Society on 319 Patchen Road in South Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations to either Ohavi Zedek Synagogue (www.ohavizedek.org), or The National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org/donate) to help fight kidney disease. Arrangements are by Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Directors.

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