Richard A. Baptista

GLOUCESTER — Richard A. Baptista, 76, of Cherry Street, died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 in the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, following a brief illness. He was the husband of Catherine A. (Genovese) Baptista.

Born in Lowell on May 10, 1933, he was the son of the late George Baptista and Marie (DeJesus) Baptista Languay. He was raised in Peabody and Salem and was a graduate of the Salem High School, Class of 1952.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in February of 1956. He was a member of the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post 3, American Legion, the Amvets Post 32 of Gloucester and the Cape Ann Chapter 1471 Loyal Order of Moose.

He was employed for over twenty years as an office manager for Allstate Insurance in Burlington. Previously, he had been employed at numerous auto-body shops on the North Shore, including Chubby's and Faye's. Due to desire for perfection, he had a reputation as one of the best technicians in the area.

Rich was also known as a jack-of-all-trades, but in his case, was a master at all he endeavored. His work was meticulous and many of his family and friends have benefited from his fine carpentry skills from furniture to large projects. He will be remembered as a humble gentleman who was devoted to his family and adored spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by his son, Richard A. Baptista, Jr., of Gloucester; his daughter and son-in-law, Mary A. and Kyle Cross; two grandchildren, Phillip and Catherine Cross, all of Beverly; a sister, Beverly Mills; four brothers, Eugene, husband of Evelyn Baptista, Donald, husband of Nancy Baptista, George, husband of Arlene Baptista and Robert, husband of Collette Baptista. He also leaves his in-laws, Josephine Piraino, Anthony, husband of Rosalie Genovese, Nancy, wife of Francis Clooney, Marco, husband of Pamela Genovese, Mary Axelsson, Antoinette, wife of David Harrison, Catherine Genovese and Ida Genovese Kavel; as well as many nieces and nephews.

ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday morning in the Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 9:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Monday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle St., Gloucester, from 4 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 408, Salem, MA 01970 (salvationarmyusa.org). For more information and to send online condolences, please visit www.grondinfuneralservices.com.