Richard C. McCaffrey

Richard C. McCaffrey of North Reading passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. He was 94 years of age.

Richard was born on August 3, 1932, in South Fayette, Pennsylvania. He was a warm and kindhearted man who gave so much love to those around him. A beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, Richard was loved beyond measure and will be forever cherished by the many people whose lives he touched.

Richard was truly one of a kind. He grew up in a small town outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and joined the Navy in search of opportunity. What he found was something far greater: the love of his life, Ann Marie. They built a beautiful life together, and Ann Marie’s family became his own.

Richard went on to build a career as a mechanical and electrical engineer at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, where his team developed the guidance system for the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) during the Apollo years. He and Ann Marie raised their family in Malden, Massachusetts, where Richard’s greatest joy was always the people he loved. His family was his world, and he made sure they always knew they came first.

Richard also cherished his annual month in the Aruba sunshine and was a devoted fan of Boston’s local sports teams, rarely missing a game if he could help it, but nothing made him happier than being surrounded by family. And Richard’s definition of family extended far beyond blood. He welcomed people with an open heart, made them feel they belonged, and loved them wholeheartedly. A handshake was never enough for Richard. He gave the best hugs, and those hugs, and the love behind them, will be remembered always.

Richard is the beloved husband of the late Ann Marie (Amicone) McCaffrey and the devoted father of Donna Schofield and her husband, Walter, and Rick McCaffrey. He is the cherished grandfather of Sarah Mansur and her husband, Nicholas; Rachel Schofield and her husband, Thomas Howes; Kaitlyn McCaffrey; and Matthew McCaffrey. He is also lovingly survived by his granddogs, Tuck and Morgan.

Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share memories with Richard’s Family on Sunday, October 25th from 2-5pm in the Barile – Cota Family Funeral Home, 335 Park Street, (corner of Park Street & RT 28), NORTH READING at Reading line.

Funeral from the Barile – Cota Family Funeral Home, 335 Park Street, (corner of Park Street & RT 28), NORTH READING at Reading line on Monday, October 26th at 9:30am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating Richard’s Eternal Life in Saint Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street North Reading at 10:30am. Interment Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Richard’s Memory to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 or by referring to the link below.

For more information, www.facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome