Richard S. Skowyra

Richard S. Skowyra, 75, of Braintree, formerly of Agawam, passed away January 5th at South Shore Hospital surrounded by his loving family. 

Richard was born in Springfield, son of the late Theodore and Ruth (Juke) Skowyra, and raised in Chicopee. He attended St. Stanislaus Grammar School in Chicopee and Cathedral High School in Springfield where he was a varsity member of the Swim and Track teams. After high school, Richard attended Lowell Technological Institute where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  

After college, Richard served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard HHC 2nd Battalion, 104th Infantry, of the 3rd Brigade, 26th Division in Chicopee from 1971-1977. Richard worked at Alstom Power, Inc in Windsor, CT for 42 years, retiring in 2013 as the Manager of Process Engineering. While at Alstom, Richard published and presented over 20 technical papers and received two U.S. patents for Advanced Steam Generator Design. 

In 1972, Richard married his wife Felicia and in 1974, they moved to Agawam where they lived for the next 50 years and raised their two sons. Richard was an active Boy Scouts leader and coached Agawam youth baseball and soccer for many years. Richard was an active member of the Southwick American Legion and the West Springfield Fish and Game, serving as Financial Secretary for many years. He was a longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Agawam. 

Richard loved spending time with his family and especially with his four grandchildren who will miss their Dziadziu dearly. He loved going to the Big E every year with his grandkids. Perhaps a close second to his love of his family was his love of telling jokes. Richard loved to make others laugh and will be remembered for his amusing sense of humor.  

Richard is survived by his wife of 52 years, Felicia (Marut) Skowyra; two sons Richard S. Skowyra II and his wife Beth of Whitman and Aaron J. Skowyra and his wife Sheila of South Weymouth; his loving grandchildren Zachary, Matthew, Julia and Ella; two sisters, Cynthia and her husband Dr. Eric Kaplan of Gloucester and Laurie and her husband Louis Reid of Belchertown and his nephew, nieces and many friends. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Friday 1/10/2025 from 5-7 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital). A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Saturday 1/11/2025 prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church, Weymouth at 10 AM. Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an organization for which Richard was a generous supporter. Donate.NationalMSSociety.Org