Richard Tierney

Richard J. Tierney, Sr., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family Monday, November 24th, 2025. Born on New Year's Day, January 1, 1933 to Gladys and Michael Tierney.

Rich grew up in South Medford in a two family home, that his grandmother owned. His neighborhood was teaming with kids, always playing in the streets. As a young boy, he played catch in the driveway with his Dad. He used his Uncle's righty mitt backwards, since he was a lefty, and became very good at throwing the ball. Eventually, he made the varsity baseball team as a freshman pitcher, at Medford High School. A friend playing football in CA, talked him into trying out for the college baseball team. So, at the age of 18, He drove out to CA with a car full of friends, and pitched for The Santa Rosa Bear Cubs, at Santa Rosa Junior College. He was soon signed to play with the Cincinnati Reds Minor league team in Ogden, Utah. He then was sold to Twin Falls, Idaho, same league, but the Yankee Farm system. From there he was promoted to a class A league, playing with the Norfolk Tars in VA. The last team he played with was in Rocky Mount, NC.

Later, at 20 years old, he signed up for the Army, and volunteered for the Airborne. He completed jump school at Fort Benning, GA, then he was sent to Fort Bragg, NC, home of the 82nd Airborne. From there he was sent to the 11th Airborne heading to Korea. An armistice was signed, once he arrived, officially ending active fighting in Korea.

After the war, for ten years, Rich worked for Boston Edison, in the street lighting division. They maintained lights for the 35 towns that the Edison covered. Next he decided to venture off into flying. With the GI bill, and his continued education at Northeastern University, he received his private pilots license, his commercial license, his instrument rating license, his flight instructors rating, and a multi engine rating. He worked for four years with Wiggins airways as a charter pilot and a flight instructor. There he flew by day, and worked nights at the Edison.

Later, Rich accepted a position with Prudential Life Insurance Company. He sold insurance to everyone at the airport and his students. He then left Prudential and took a job with Motorola as account executive selling two way radios to police departments and fire departments. His territory was RI and MA. He did very well always making his quota for ten years. He then started a very successful manufacturer's repping business. He represented Kytron Circuits, Welding Craftsmen and Wrobel Engineering for over twenty years.

Rich loved sports, and enjoyed playing golf and tennis with his family for many years. He won the Men's singles tennis championship at Hatherly Country Club in 1977 and tied for first place at a Stonebridge Country Club Men's Tournament.

He loved his summers at the Cape, sitting on his back deck, and watching the golfers go by. He enjoyed all the backyard family cookouts, watching the hydrangeas grow in the yard, catching a good Red Sox game on TV, Sunday Patriots games and helping out with stirring a delicious dessert in the kitchen.

Rich leaves behind his loving wife of thirty-nine years, Karen McCarthy Tierney of Mashpee, five children, Patricia Tierney of Centerville, Lisa Kingsley (Buddy) of Stoughton, Jennifer Tierney of Pembroke, Richard Tierney, Jr. of Centerville and Ashton Tierney of Mashpee. Three grandchildren, Shara Mooney, Brenton Pulsifer (Whitney) and Dylan Tierney, and five great grandchildren Aria & Ciranda Mooney, Ashley, Ellie and Nolan Pulsifer, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours at the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington St. RTE. 53, Hanover, on Tuesday, December 2nd from 4-7pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Angels Parish - St. Mary's, 392 Hanover St. RTE. 139, Hanover, on Wednesday at 9am. Burial to follow at Hanover Center Cemetery.