Richard Russell Dearden

Richard "Dick, Daddio, Grandpa, Unk, Buster," Dearden -the most loving and dedicated husband, father, grandpa, "great" grandpa, friend and mentor to so many, passed away in New Orleans on Oct. 17, 2022 at the age of 90. Richard Russell born in on December 12, 1931, the youngest of 4 children to Lillian MacFarlane Dearden and James Dearden. Life was always an adventure growing up with his siblings, Barbara Philbrick, Kenneth Dearden and Donald Dearden in North Andover MA and spending summers with family and friends on Prudence Island RI, York Beach, ME and Hampton Beach NH. After graduating high school he went on to become a Navy veteran and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (1956) in New Haven, CT. In 1955, while still in school and working as a summer cook at the Hanover Inn, he met the love of his life, "Beth", the beautiful waitress! Just 3 months later they eloped and married in a small chapel in CT. Together, they began the adventure in food service, which took them from coast to coast and finally settling in the Deep South. During this time they built a beautiful family, welcoming 3 sons and a daughter. He worked a lot, but always had time for his family. He taught the kids so many things! Some of the fondest memories include camping, hiking Mt Monadnock during a blizzard and taking his sons skiing (even if the wind chill factor was below 0!) When hiking in Yosemite, he had the boys sit by the fire, so he could get the "perfect picture!" He was a wonderful photographer. We loved getting up before the sun to walk the beach, look for sea glass and wait to capture the perfect light for photos. On the weekends, he would take his children on rides down country dirt roads, exploring abandoned houses, bottle digging, barn auctions, fishing at local ponds and lakes and playing catch in the back yard. And oh, those deep sea fishing trips, getting up at 3 AM and driving to Hampton Beach to get on the Thumper, owned by Al Goron Deep Sea Fishing, which is still there! He loved listening to the Red Sox on the transistor radio and sipping iced tea. He always said, stand up to a bully and stick up for anyone who is being bullied and take life one day at a time. His words stuck with the kids through all the years. In his later years, he found great joy in his volunteer work , gardening and pursuing his art, creating beautiful pen and ink and water color scenes. He loved a glass of Cabernet while sitting on the patio, reading or just enjoying the dogs and the yard. He had these magnificent blue eyes that twinkled and the greatest sense of humor. He loved jazz, great food, good books & friends and loved his family. He joins his son James Richard (10/15/56-9/30/21) and dearly departed family and friends in a heavenly gathering, no doubt, eating great food, enjoying a Cabernet, listening to jazz, talking, laughing and catching up! He watches down on those who survived him, his wife of 66 years, Beth Fisher Dearden, children: Christopher, Kenneth, Ellen, grandchildren: Jennifer, Christopher, Krystal, Sarah and great grand children and leaves us with the most wonderful and cherished memories. In his memory, donations may be made to Covenant Nursing Home, 5919 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115. We will be forever grateful to the kind and loving care they gave to him. We also would like to thank everyone who has sent such sweet words and have shown love and support. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Hampton Beach, NH.

Tributes

Richard Russell Dearden

December 12, 1931 - October 17, 2022