Richard E. Lucas

On September 3, 2023, Richard E. Lucas passed away peacefully at home, joining family, friends, and Jimmy Buffet on "the other side." Born to James Walter Lucas and Mary O'Brien Lucas at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA on August 30, 1928, Dick (aka Dickie-Da) was raised in Wellesley, MA with siblings James, Mary (Carens) and Joan (Shepherd), all of whom pre-deceased him.
Dick graduated from Noble and Greenough School, Class of 1946, where he played hockey on a frozen pond, baseball and football. Dick graduated from Babson College in 1951. He married his high school/college sweetheart, Suzanne Woelfel, and joined his father and older brother in their wool business, James W. Lucas & Sons, in Boston.
Dick and "Sue" raised four sons-Richard (of Johnson City, TN), Christopher (deceased), Jeffrey (Salem, OR), and Peter (Dover, NH). As manmade fabrics negatively impacted the wool business, Dick pivoted into technology, joining IBM. Dick's career with IBM took the Lucas family to Darien, CT, St. Louis, MO, and Atherton, CA, where they lived for many years. Their Bay Area residency gave them easy access to skiing vacations in Tahoe and horseback riding at western dude ranches. Dick's marriage to Sue ended in divorce.
In 1969 Dick hired Ken Arthur for a position at IBM. Ken would become Dick's lifelong friend, business associate, and partner in successive organizations and consulting projects for the next 54 years. Their shared entrepreneurial endeavors included Applied Financial Systems in San Mateo, CA in the 1970s and later, Funds Associates (FAL) in Berwyn, PA (in the 1980s and 1990s), both of which were acquired by large financial institutions. Dick developed close relationships with his colleagues and was a valued mentor throughout his entire life. When he wasn't negotiating too hard, his customers often became friends too.
Dick married Anne Ligget, (née Guldin) in 1984 and was a fun and generous stepfather to Anne's son, John T. ("J.T.") Ligget IV (Kathleen Walsh - Newton, MA). Anne and Dick bought a quirky "pool house" originally built on the Breyer (ice cream) estate in Haverford, PA. With Dick's fondness for challenging projects, (not always shared by Anne), they expanded and renovated their pool house several times during their blissful 33 years there.
After being a family exclusively of boys, Dick was delighted when the doctor announced "It's a girl." Elizabeth ("Beth") Lucas (Christopher Higgins - Dover, MA) made their family complete. Their home was a funky party house, and they hosted countless celebrations and gatherings for family, friends, and school groups, including J.T. and Beth's high school and college sports teams. Dick was always "all in." At a Denison Lacrosse party, Dick and son, Peter, manned two commercial grills to serve hundreds of steaks and chicken breasts to hungry lacrosse players and their families. Well nourished, the Denison Lacrosse victory the next day was guaranteed.
Marching to the beat of his own drum, Dick eschewed the traditional Jersey shore beach vacation and was attracted to the beaches of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. He and Anne added another project to their full plates, building a beach house in the Sanderling community of Duck, NC, where they vacationed from 1990 to 2005. Staying true to their family motto of "If there's a hard way to do it, we'll find it," Dick engaged in woodworking projects to furnish their beach house on a strict budget. Sanderling offered family and friends long beach walks, lively cocktail hours on the deck, fishing, tennis, sea breezes, and powerful waves for Atlantic Ocean swimming and body surfing.
When daughter Beth decided to attend boarding school at Tabor Academy in Marion, MA in 2001, Dick and Anne never imagined that Marion would eventually become their beloved retirement community. After they reluctantly, but wisely, sold their Haverford home, they made their Marion vacation home their permanent home. It was a good decision as they welcomed grandchildren Halsey and Grace Ligget, Charles and Oliver Higgins, all of whom reside with their parents in Greater Boston. Dick is also survived by grandson Richard Lucas (Cydney - Temecula, CA) and their three children/Dick's great grandchildren, R.E., Cole, and Madison. Dick also leaves behind grandson, Christopher Lucas (Washington, DC), brother-in-law, Col. Thomas Shepherd, (Capon Bridge, WV), numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and his devoted wife and best friend of 39 years, Anne Guldin Lucas.
Although working hard to grow businesses was a key component of Dick's life for many years, he possessed diverse interests and talents. Somehow he found time to become an expert woodworker, and family homes feature his tables, cabinets, chests, and even a couple gorgeous Grandfather's Clocks. Dick designed (and a nephew arranged production of) several steel barbecue smokers, one of which still resides on the Lucas Marion patio. Dick also enjoyed gardening, golf, and sailing on his treasured Karakia in Sippican Harbor. Dick reigned as the King of the Grill and Emperor of Ice Cream. Dick liked gadgets and was well equipped with the latest and greatest, sometimes to Anne's delight and other times to her chagrin. His margaritas were legendary, best accompanied by Jimmy Buffet or Harry Belafonte music, with singing and dancing encouraged during preparation and consumption.
Dick's most recent club memberships included Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, PA, the Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia, Cleveland Ledge Investment Club in Marion, MA, and The Boulders Club in Carefree, AZ. At the time of his death Dick belonged to The Kittansett Club, and Beverly Yacht Club in Marion.
Dick's charm, zest for life, "twinkle," and remarkably upbeat, positive attitude-even in the face of adversity-made him a cherished teammate for Anne, keeping her on her toes anticipating Dick's next brilliant idea or adventure. Although he may have been many years her senior, many people considered Dick to be younger at heart than Anne, as exemplified by his joyful trike rides on the bumpy roads of Marion village. With the trike's tall, bright safety flag (required by Anne) blowing in the breeze, it was easy to spot him heading your way. Dick was ageless, with friends from all generations. To know him was to love him. Dick showed us how to age gracefully and with good humor. His family and friends will always cherish the silly inside jokes and memories of Dick's antics, even as he leaves a huge hole in their hearts. Life will never be quite as much fun without Dick.
Dick's family thanks Community Nurse Home Care, who provided hospice services and moral support to him and Anne in his final month at home. They greatly appreciate the extraordinary support and generosity of family and friends, near and far. The family is eternally grateful for the expert treatment and care from the doctors and other employees of Brigham and Women's Hospital and respectfully request that if you would like to do something in Dick's memory, you consider the following:
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to support the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, under Dr. Akshay Desai, and the Division of Infectious Diseases, under Dr. Ann Woolley-and in honor of Dr. Thomas O' Brien (Dick's cousin)-at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women's Hospital with "in memory of Richard Lucas" in the memo line and sent to: Brigham & Women's Hospital Development
Office, 263 Huntington Avenue, #318, Boston, MA 02115 or by visiting bwhgiving.org/memorial to make an online memorial gift.
A private celebration of Dick's life will be held at a date yet to be determined.