Obituary of Richard Albert Ventura

Richard Albert Ventura passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.  He was 78 years old.

Richie was born in Cambridge, MA., the son of Manuel and Rose Ventura.  He grew up in Somerville where he was a student at St. Joseph Parochial and Somerville High. He served six years in the Army National Guard.

He and his former wife, of over 35 years, Patricia (Alessi) Ventura spent most of their married years living in Burlington.  He was always an involved father for his son and daughter.  He coached his son’s baseball teams and enjoyed his daughters dance recitals.  Also, during those years, their good friends the Killilea and DiPerna families were almost inseparable.  Friday night was friends’ night, whether it was playing cards at one another’s homes, going to dinner, or hanging out with the three families.  They all spent their summer vacations together, whether it was on the beaches of Cape Cod, in the mountains/lakes of New Hampshire with their favorite being Eastover Resort in Lenox, MA. 

Richie worked as a printer for American Fundraising, in Waltham, for many years.  After printing, he joined his friend Paul Husson who had opened a dealership, Husson Motors, in Salem, NH, where he worked for 30 years. 

Richie had a great relationship with his customers and always saw the good in everyone.  He would always assist them in choosing the car that would best be suited to their liking, and steer them into a car that fit their budget. 

After his retirement, he would help at the dealership whenever they needed him to pick up cars, cover the office, or fill in for a salesman. The last car he sold at the dealership was to his grandson Nicolas.

 He loved old cars with his favorite car that he owned back in the 60s being a 1953 Chevrolet he called “Sydney”. He also enjoyed collecting elephants, Indians, and horse statues.  Richie loved food, making jokes, dancing and singing.   He had a great life filled with family and many friends.  He will be missed by all who knew him. His wonderful life, that he lived, will follow him into heaven.

Richie was the loving father of Richard Ventura of Chelmsford and Nicole Ventura of Stoneham.  He was “Papa No Hair” to his two grandchildren, Angelina and Nicolas Ventura.  He was the brother of Carol Silva of Derry, NH and her late husband Richard Silva, Rose Kenney of Cambridge, her late husband John Kenney, Francis Ventura of N. Reading, and his wife Grayce, Theresa Kippenberger of Plaistow, NH, and her husband David, John Ventura of Arlington, and his wife Paula, and the late Marilyn Drew.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA at 10am. on Thursday, January 26, 2023.  Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, Virginia 22116-7023. 

Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington. For online guestbook & video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net