Richard E. Welch

At age 86, Richard E. Welch passed away peacefully Friday morning, February 17, 2017 in his home in Concord. Born April 7, 1930 in Quincy, Dick grew up on the South Shore in Weymouth and Cohasset. After graduating from Cohasset High School, he attended Thayer Academy and then Harvard College, graduating in 1953. While attending Harvard, he met "Cliffie" Alice Carbonaro (Acey). He then served in the US Army, Military Police during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge from the service, he attended Boston University earning a Master's in history and a Master's in education. In November of 1955, he and Acey married. Two years later, they moved to Concord and in 1960, they moved into the little red house on Old Road to Nine Acre Corner where they have remained ever since.

Dick's early career started in education, teaching History and Math at Middlesex School and as a lecturer at Boston University, Boston College and Salem State College. He followed that with jobs in the photo industry, circling back to a career that began in high school while working for his father at Welch's Camera Center in Wollaston. He spent most of his later years working at Creative Camera in Maynard and had his own small business specializing in classic camera restorations and repairs.

His interests revolved around photography, history, and outdoor activities. He was a member of the Photographic Historical Society of New England, the Maynard Historical Society, and the Concord Country Club. He marched in parades and joined in reenactments with the Concord Minutemen; a highlight was participating in the Arnold Expedition to Quebec in 1975. He was a longtime Boy Scout Leader of Troop 131 in Concord. He enjoyed bird watching and hiking across Concord's fields and trails and canoeing the Concord, Assabet and Sudbury rivers.

He is survived by his wife Acey Welch and his children and grandchildren; Terence Welch and his partner Kyle Conley of Quincy, MA; Elise Welch and her husband Norman Johnson of Albuquerque, NM; David Welch, his wife Michele and their daughters Alexandra and Casey of Lake Wylie, SC. Dick was an only child preceded in death by his parents Louise Levis and Richard A. Welch, and dear cousins Edwin Welch and Peggy Welch Southerland.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate Richard's life on Saturday, February 25th at 11:00am in the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, special gifts may be made to:
The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle
34 Walden Street, Unit 217, Concord, MA 01742-2542
or
Student Conservation Association
PO Box 550
689 River Road
Charlestown, NH 03603