Mark Richard "Rick" Holgate

CUMBERLAND

Mark Richard (Rick) Holgate, 75, of Cumberland passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026 at home after a year-long illness. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Nancy (Cocci) Holgate, with whom he shared over 34 years of marriage.

Born in Pawtucket, he was the son of the late Mark and Yvonne (Lejeune) Holgate. He resided in Cumberland for most of his life.

Rick was a humble man, a hard worker, an unpretentious soul who loved his family, loved to laugh and in turn, make others laugh. He did everything to perfection, he gardened, landscaped, renovated, built and remodeled. He cooked and baked with precision. He made gourmet and holiday meals to entertain family and friends. His wisdom went beyond the pages of a book, there was nothing he couldn't converse with people about, and very little he didn't understand or have knowledge of. He loved the outdoors, swimming, fishing, walking, he enjoyed so much the peace and beauty found in nature.

He could fix anything he could get his hands on and if he didn't know how to fix it, he would learn how. Computers, he built them, designed them, and was running them before they even caught on. He was everyone's computer man and would drop everything to help someone with a computer problem or any other kind of problem.

In the height of the Vietnam War, Rick enlisted in the Air Force, and was stationed in Germany and became the youngest E5 Staff Sergeant in the 60 First TCS (Tactical Control Squadron). He worked as an Offensive Weapons Controller running active close air support gathering reconnaissance and fly-over target data.

After four years in the Air Force, Rick worked in real estate, engineering masonry, plumbing and insurance before joining the USPS where he continued to work for 30 years. After retiring he opened his own online business with Amazon and E-Bay.

In addition to his beloved wife Nancy, he leaves his son, Jarrod M. Holgate of Providence. He is also survived by his siblings, Kenneth Beale of Massachusetts, Peter Beale of Cumberland, Sue Taft of Texas, Linda Holgate of North Carolina, Paul Holgate of Florida, and Lois Holgate of Pawtucket; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late David Holgate.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to Rick's Life Celebration to be held with Visiting Hours on Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 4 to 7 PM and continue on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 9 AM in the J. J. Duffy Funeral Home, 757 Mendon Road, Rt. 122, and Cumberland. A Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in the Historic St. Joseph Church, Mendon Road, Cumberland. Burial with military honors will follow at RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.

A special thank you is extended to the staff at Dana-Farber especially Dr. Humberto Rossi, Allison Bumsted, and Kari Decelles for the care that Rick received.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Donation Processing Center, PO Box 5041, Boone, IA 50950-0041.

ONLINE MEMORIAL: jjduffyfuneralhome.com

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