Richard E. Squires

1932 - 2024

Squires, Richard E., - 91, of Egg Harbor Township, passed away April 2, 2024 at Shore Medical Center with his family by his side. He was born December 1932 in Atlantic City Hospital to parents, Clyde and Myra (McCoy) Squires. Dick attended Farmington and Cardiff Schools in Egg Harbor Township and graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1950. In May of 1951 he enlisted in the United States Navy. Over his four-year tour of duty he served in hostile waters off the Korean coast aboard the U.S.S. Wisconsin (BB-64) before his honorable discharge in May of 1955. Upon returning to civilian life he worked for Coca Cola in Atlantic City as a driver and salesman. In 1956 he accepted a position at the Atlantic City Loan Company. In 1957, he left to accept a position as a candidate for the New Jersey State Police, but regretfully resigned seven weeks later due to a training injury. In 1962 he was nominated to serve as Tax Collector for the City of Northfield. During this time he developed an interest in politics and subsequently joined the Northfield Men's Republican Club to which he was elected president. In June of 1967, Dick became a licensed New Jersey Tax Assessor and was hired as a part time Tax Assessor for the City of Pleasantville and a tax consultant for the City of Brigantine. In 1974 he began service as President of the Egg Harbor Township Tax Assessor's Office; a position he held for ten years. Dick's political career began with his election as an Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholder in 1975. He served as Chairman from 1978 to 1983, when he was elected Atlantic County Executive. Dick was Atlantic County's second Atlantic County Executive, serving for sixteen years before retiring in 2000. During his tenure he initiated many innovative and award winning projects. One of his proudest accomplishments was the establishment of the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery in Estell Manor, where he will be buried. During his terms as County Executive, Dick served as Chairman of the South Jersey Economic Development District, Chairman of the South Jersey Transportation and Planning Organization, President of the County Executives of America Association and was on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Counties and Co-Chair of the NACO Task Force on Aging and Intergenerational Issues. He served on the New Jersey assembly Task Force on the 21st Century and was appointed by Governor Christie Whitman as a member of the New Jersey Property Tax Commission. He was also a member of the Korean War Memorial Committee. Among Dick's affiliations were the VFW Post 9462, the American Legion Post 295 and the USS Wisconsin BB-64 reunion committee. He was a board member of the Atlantic County Historical Society serving as President from 2002 to 2016 and was Chairman Emeritus of the Atlantic County Veterans Museum Committee. Following his retirement as Atlantic County Executive, Dick became a private consultant. Dick is predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Winnie Cullen Squires. He is survived by his three children from a previous marriage, Keith D. (Keryl) of Utah, Kevin A. (Carol) of Florida and Kristin L. Squires of California; two stepchildren, Ronald Cullen (Marianne) of Egg Harbor Township and Winifred Hayes of Mays Landing. Dick was very proud of his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his three sisters, Janet Allister and Claudia Jacques (Donald) both of the Villages in Florida and Carol Jones of Georgia and her three daughters, Marianne, Joanne and Candice.

Services will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Adams Perfect Funeral Home, 1650 New Road, Northfield, New Jersey. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery, Estell Manor with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers the family requests remembrances for Dick be made to the Atlantic County Historical Society, PO Box 301, Somers Point, NJ 08244 or the Atlantic County Veterans Museum Foundation, PO Box 194, Northfield, NJ 08225.