Richard J. Stapleton

Richard J. Stapleton, 85, passed away at home Saturday July 27, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy V. (Lannon) Stapleton. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Thomas J. and Florence (Baumgartel) Stapleton.
Mr. Stapleton served in the United States Airforce from 1956-1960. He went on to major in Health, Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Rhode Island. Upon graduation he became a Youth Worker for Progress for Providence and then Program Director for the Kent County YMCA. He found his calling as a Physical Education Teacher in Warwick and after retiring he went back to teaching in his beloved Scituate. In 1979-1985 he was the Recreation Director for the town of Scituate and was instrumental in reviving Olde Home Day along with the Scituate Preservation Society.
From 1969-1971 he worked with the Sisters of Mercey as the Director of Camp We-Can-Do-It, at Pine Harbor School in Pascoag. Volunteer teens from St. Philip Church in Greenville went daily during summers to assist the special needs children who resided there.
He also found his creative side in woodworking, and he and his wife along with his sister Pauline and her husband Charles began a crafts business, creating wooden hand-stenciled banks, baskets, and decorative items, which they sold at craft shows in New England and New Jersey, including his favorite, the Scituate Art Festival.
Following his "final" retirement, he revived his love of playing cards, which lead to his becoming a poker dealer at Foxwoods Resort Casino for 10 years.
He always found time to participate in the activities of his children and later for his precious three granddaughters. The joy he received in seeing their accomplishments was immeasurable.
His love of sports began as a child when he competed as a gymnast for the Providence Turners. While teaching at Winman Jr. High, he became the Girls' Gymnastics Coach for Tollgate High School. Upon his retirement he became the Assistant Women's Gymnastics Coach for Rhode Island College from 1991-1993 and then the Head Coach from 1993-1997. For the first time ever, "Stape's Girls" won the ECAC Championship in 1995-1996, and he was named the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Coach of the Year.
When he felt that his gymnasts were surpassing his coaching ability he became a judge for RI Girls High School Gymnastics. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic Hall of Fame in 2019, an honor that he humbly thought that he did not deserve. He was named Judge of the Year in 2020. He was honored to have the uneven bars event at the State Meet named after him in perpetuity, and was so pleased to be able to judge the State Championship this past year despite his failing health.
He and his wife moved from Scituate after 48 years to Country Living at Westview Commons in Dayville, CT. Here he soon formed many friendships, even teaching poker for a weekly game. He and his wife became Co-Presidents of the Residents Association where he fine-tuned his skill of telling bad dad jokes and puns at their monthly meetings. At the time of his passing, he was actively working on creating a Wall of Honor for the Veterans who live there.
In addition to his wife Dorothy, he is survived by his children James R. Stapleton (Denise) of Warwick, Jeffrey J. Stapleton (Dawn) of Greenville and Susan I. Colicchio (Carl) of West Warwick. He was the grandfather of Mackenzie Stapleton, Lillian Stapleton, Kayla Colicchio and was the brother of the late Pauline M. Phillips.
Relative and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Service, Sunday August 11, 2024 at 12 noon, in North Scituate Baptist Church, 619 West Greenville Rd, North Scituate, RI.