Richard C. Spaulding

Richard C. Spaulding, Sr., 86, died suddenly on Thursday, March 5, 2020 in his home.  Barbara Heaphy, his loving partner of 22 years, was by his side.  
Richard was born in Beverly, on August 24,1933, son of the late Charles and Gladys (Messier) Spaulding.  He was raised and educated in Topsfield where he helped his father raise chickens and goats and helped his mother at her local sandwich shop.  After graduating from the Essex Aggie he joined the Navy in 1952 and honorably served on the USS Adirondack until his discharge in 1956. When he returned, he married the late Alberta L Spaulding whom he shared 41 years of marriage.  He made a home in Danvers raising his three sons.  
Richard was extremely involved in the community.  He was a life-long member of the Essex County Agricultural Society and with his family operated a food booth at the Topsfield Fair for four generations.  Dick “Spud”, actually attended over 70 annual Topsfield Fairs.  He was a long-time member of the Topsfield Grange and past president of the Danvers Chamber of Commerce.  Richards supported the Danvers National Little league and took time away from his businesses to coach all three of his boys.  At one time, he chaired the North Shore Heart association.  He was a long time Danvers Town Meeting member and an avid campaign manager for several local school committee members and Selectmen.  Richard was also a business owner.   Over a thirty-year period, he served over 15,000 meals to shuts ins on Thanksgiving Day and he ran multiple golf tournaments donating over $100,000 to the Hospice of the North Shore. He owned and operated Spaulding’s restaurant on Maple Street in downtown Danvers, North Shore Canteen, and Spud’s Restaurants & Pubs until the time of his retirement.  
He always had a passion for playing cards.  It didn’t matter what game with Hearts, Blackjack, and Texas Holdem being his favorites.  He would travel to Atlantic City by plane or bus, by car to Foxwoods and New Hampshire to find a good game.  He was always inviting someone new to tag along and would teach them the ropes.  He had the most fun when he was playing with his sons.  He met Barbara Heaphy in 1998 and thoroughly enjoyed the trips that Barbara would plan.  They would cruise everywhere and would keep track of the trips with a pin map of the world in their kitchen.  They moved to Atkinson, NH and enjoyed many trips around the globe.  His favorite trip was returning overseas to where he had visited when in the Navy.
Richard is predeceased by his son, Richard Spaulding, Jr. and he is survived by his son; Scott Spaulding; his son Bruce Spaulding and his wife Lisa; his grandchildren, Caitlin Aleci and her husband Cory, Ryan Spaulding, Alex Spaulding, Jake Spaulding, Kate Spaulding, Anthony Johnson and his family, and Barbara Heaphy’s children and grandchildren.

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