Obituary of Richard Wilde

Richard C. &quote;Dick” Wilde who was prominent in Burlington Politics for 4 decades, passed away at the Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading on Wednesday morning , December 15, 2010. He was 75 years old. Dick was born in Boston, the son of the late Albert and Margaret Wilde. His family made their home in Charlestown until Dick was in 8th grade and then settled in Burlington in 1950. From an early age, Dick’s outgoing persona and competitive nature shined. In High School, he played Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Her served as Class President during his Junior and Senior years and was voted Most Popular by his classmates. He served his Country in the Army during the Vietnam War and was callback into service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He saw the Town of Burlington’s growth and wanted to help lead its future. He served on the Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen for 19 years being Chairperson several times during those years, a member of the Burlington Housing Authority, Town Meeting, Chairman of Burlington’s Democratic Town Committee, and numerous Town Sub Committees. Dick had strong opinions on what was best for Burlington and was more than willing to stand up for what he thought was right for the Town of Burlington. He and other Town leaders helped to ensure that Burlington’s rapid growth in the 1970’s to 1990’s was done with the Town and its Residents best interest at heart. He took great pride in serving the community and did his best to make Burlington a better place to live. Dick was retired from New England Telephone where he worked as an installer. He also worked as a Clerk at the Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Cambridge. Dick was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disable American Veterans, and American Legion. Dick’s hobbies included vacationing in Gray Maine, fishing, boating, Horse & Dog racing, and gardening. He was a huge Patriots, Bruins, and Red Sox Fan. Dick was the brother of Albert Wilde & his wife Mary of Woburn, Judith Bowles & her husband James of Dunbarton, NH, and the late Neal Wilde. He was the loving uncle of Judith, Patricia, & Brian Bowles, Deirdre Foote, Megan and Michaela Wilde. He was also survived by 9 great nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Dick’s name may be made to the VNA of Middlesex-East & Visiting Nurse Hospice, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880. Former Burlington Selectman, Planning Board, Housing Authority, and Democratic Town Committee Chairperson.