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- [S5] Obituary.
RIGAZIO, Richard L. "Dick" Age 90, of Arlington, MA, peacefully passed away Sunday, July 11, 2021 at Belmont Manor, Belmont, MA. An accomplished athlete, coach, businessman, and family man, he was born on Oct. 16, 1930 in Arlington and raised in North Cambridge. The eldest of five children of John and Simone (Galibois) Rigazio, he graduated from Cambridge High & Latin in 1948, where he met Mary Kennedy, who would become his wife for 69 years, until her death in 2020. Captain of the CHLS baseball and hockey teams in 1948, named All Scholastic for baseball in 1946 and to the Greater Boston All Star baseball and hockey teams in 1947 and 1948. He played in the Cape Cod League for Wellfleet in the summer of 1947 and was signed by the Boston Braves that fall.
Dick played multiple positions for minor league teams in the Braves and Cubs organizations throughout the U.S. and became player-manager in 1953. Following the 1955 season, he retired from professional baseball to return to North Cambridge and open a business on Rindge Ave. That business became Rigazio's Cleaners, where Dick was proprietor for 42 years, until his retirement in 1998.
The dry-cleaning business gave Dick the flexibility to share his athletic talent and experience with the community. He played Intercity League baseball for North Cambridge, leading the team to multiple league championships. He coached baseball and hockey for youth, high school and semi-pro teams and officiated high school and college baseball, hockey, and soccer games for 30 years. Member of Belmont Tennis Club, and President (1997-05). Elected to Intercity League Hall of Fame and Cambridge Athletic Hall of Fame.
Survived by his children Richard (Julie) of Arlington; Patti Sciolla (Brian McQuesten) of Fernandina Beach, FL; Nancy Csaplar (Ken, decd.) of Winchester; Ron (Laura) of Chelmsford; John (Maureen) of Andover; and Jim (Julie) of Andover; 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and siblings Don Rigazio (Kim) of Louisville, KY; and Barbara Gamache (Roger decd.) of Woburn. Predeceased by brothers John Rigazio and Raymond Rigazio.
Visitation at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St., Arlington on Friday, July 16, 4 pm - 8 pm. Funeral from Keefe Funeral home on Saturday, July 17 at 9 am followed by a Mass Celebrating his life at 10 am at St. Eulalia's Church, Winchester. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington. Friends and relatives are respectfully invited to attend. For complete obituary, visit www.keefefuneralhome.com.
Donations in Dick's memory can be made to The Arlington Touchdown Club, 1090 Mass. Ave.
Arlington, MA 02476.
Published by Boston Globe from Jul. 13 to Jul. 15, 2021.
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1930 - 2021 (90 years)
