Richard B. “Dick” Armstrong

Armstrong, Richard B. “Dick” of Hingham, MA, passed away on December 15, 2011 following a long battle with diabetes and osteoporosis. Dick was born on May 27, 1927 in Springfield, Mass. to the late Ralph and Avice (Bliss) Armstrong. Growing up in Springfield he attended Classical High School where he was co-captain of the football team. He left in the middle of senior year to join the Navy and served as an Electronic Technician’s mate for the remainder of World War II. After serving in the Navy he attended Brown University where he played football and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served as an ensign in the Naval Reserve during the Korean War. In 1952 he earned his Master of Automotive Engineering from the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, and began a 39-year career with Chrysler Corporation. In 1952, Dick married Nancy Ann Smead with whom he had two children. Through an illustrious career with Chrysler, Dick and his family had the opportunity to live not only in the Detroit area, but also in Geneva, Switzerland, and London, Kenilworth and Coventry England. Between work and family life he also earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Wayne State University in 1969. He retired in 1989 and moved with Nancy to Grantham NH where they a built house overlooking Eastman Pond. There he was able to enjoy skiing in the winter and sailing in the summer. Dick was renowned to be the first one out on his cross-country skis in winter, and was often seen skiing on the very last stretch of melting snow in the spring. Dick started racing sailboats in the ‘60s with a Sunfish and moved on to an Enterprise class boat in 1970’s England. On returning to the Detroit area he joined the Crescent Sail Yacht Club on Lake St. Clair and raced a Raven (including competing in the 1977 Raven National Championships). Upon retirement Dick was an avid competitor on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire in his Cal 20 boat called “No Cal”. He won many races in the Cruising Class on the lake including the 2005 Fleet Championship his last full year of racing. Dick was honored for his exemplary volunteer service to the American Diabetes Association including serving on the New Hampshire State Board and chairing multiple walk-a-thons and ski-a-thons. In 2006 Nancy and Dick moved to the Linden Ponds community in Hingham Mass. He is survived by his wife Nancy; son Fred and his wife Lisa of Mansfield Mass.; son Walter and his wife Arden of Wayne PA; and four grandchildren Drew, Alec, Liz and Katie Armstrong. He is also survived by a brother Robert and his wife Hildegard Armstrong of Worcester Mass. as well as seven nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday January 7, 2012 at 11 am in the Catering Room, Derby Club House, Linden Ponds. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Second Congregational Church, 43 Highland Ave., Cohasset, MA 02025, or American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.