Henry Frank Festa

Henry "Rico" Festa, 76, of Medford, MA, passed away on May 31, 2025, after a long, hard-fought battle with renal disease. He passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

Rico was a big personality with an even bigger heart, loved by all who knew him. He was a devoted husband and father, but the greatest joy of his life was undoubtedly his role as "Papa" to grandson and namesake, Henry.

Born in 1948 to Ann Petrella and Frank Festa, Rico was the oldest of three siblings. As a child growing up in East Boston, he and his large family enjoyed spending weekends at Shays Beach or down the Cape.

In 1968, Rico was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He was honored with a Bronze Star with "V" device for valor, as well as a Purple Heart after being wounded in action. As a disabled veteran, advocacy for fellow veterans and access to care through the VA remained a lifelong passion.

After an honorable discharge in 1970, he worked as a truck driver and proud member of Teamsters Local 25, where his sense of brotherhood found a natural home.

Rico met the love of his life, Theresa, at a Cambridge club in 1972. When she slid him her number on a scrap from her checkbook, he was impressed. That bold move marked the start of a 50+ year love story. They married in 1978 and were blessed with two daughters.

Rico was the epitome of a girl dad, a supportive presence who never missed a chance to chaperone a field trip (still the best "quacker" the duck boats ever heard) or partake in a Girl Scout camping trip (where he famously rallied two other dads to organize a covert pizza delivery).

While Rico was a proud and loving father, his devotion to grandson Henry was unmatched. He poured all his love, wisdom, and humor into that relationship, which brought him immense joy, especially in his later years.

Rico loved lounging in the backyard pool and vacationing in Aruba, Las Vegas, or Atlantic City. He was never one to pass up a great meal or a trip to the casino. Casino dates with Theresa and playing cards with daughter Amanda were among his favorite activities. He may have left a few dollars behind, but memories were certainly made.

If Rico respected you, you had a friend for life. Fiercely loyal and always willing to fight for the ones he loved. Even as his health declined, he faced each day with determination and courage. His advice when times got tough? "Just do the best you can." He lived by those words every day.

Rico was preceded in death by parents, Ann and Frank Festa; favorite uncle, Henry "Junior" Festa; and beloved cousins, Josephine "Dodo" and Wally Dwyer. He is survived by wife, Theresa; daughters, Amanda and Jennifer; and grandson, Henry. He also leaves behind sisters, Annette and Jennie Festa; nieces and nephews, Frank Festa and wife Sydney, William Sheehan and partner Latoya, Dennis Sheehan, Nicholas and Brianna Francini; cousins Connie Angelesco and Dianne and David Campbell; as well as many other cherished family members and friends. If there's one thing you could say about Rico, it's that he was deeply loved-and he returned that love with equal measure.

Rico will be interred at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA, and a Mass and Celebration of Life will be held later this summer in his honor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV.org) or the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org).