Richard P. Demers

Richard P. Demers, 65, of Manchester, died August 26, 2002, at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, due to complications from leukemia.

Born in Taunton, MA, October 18, 1936, he was the son of Hector and Yvette (Yelle) Demers. He had been a Manchester resident since 1977.

He attended Coyle High School where he graduated in 1954. He attended Saint John's Seminary in Brighton, MA, receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees. P>Richard was ordained a Catholic Priest in February 1962. He served at St. Michael's Parish, Ocean Grove, MA from 1962 to 1967. He served as a Navy Chaplain in Vietnam where he was assigned first to a Mash Unit and then to the Fifth Marines. While in Vietnam Richard received the Navy's Bronze Star Metal for Meritorious service.

Richard was released from his vows as a priest in 1970 and married Sarah Bible of Morristown, Tennessee. After receiving his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1976, he, his wife, and two children spent two years in Ghana, West Africa helping local populations to organize small-scale sugar cane factories.

Richard took a leadership role in the Manchester Community, serving at various times on the boards of Centerpoint Bank, The Chamber, Palace Theater, CMC and Energy North. He was a member of the Air Resources Council, Gas Managers Guild and was active in Rotary. After his retirement From Energy North in 1999, he spent his time traveling and leading tours throughout Asia.

Family members include his wife, Sarah B. Demers of Manchester; 2 sons, Christopher P. Demers of Chicago, Ill, and Justin A. Demers of Arlington, VA; 2 grandchildren; his mother of Taunton, MA; a brother, Robert Demers of Falmouth, MA; 2 sisters, Irene Lamson of Northhampton, MA, and Lucille Reilly of Marietta, GA; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Pauline McGrath and by his Father, Hector Demers.

A mass of Christian burial was celebrated Thursday August 29, 2002 in St. Catherine Church, Webster St. Burial was at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Adult Leukemia Program, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115-6084, ATTN: Alicia Fedele; or, to the Palace Theater Trust, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, NH 03101, ATTN: Sue Pease