West Stockbridge — Richard J (Dick) Brophy, 88 of West Stockbridge, Mass., died November 12, 2023 at home.
Born in Pittsfield, Mass., on May 19,1935, son of the late John J. and Rose A. Brophy, he was the youngest of five children. He graduated from Dalton High School in 1953 and from Rider University in 1957. He worked as Manager of Computer Operations at Berkshire Life Insurance Co; then as Assistant Director at the Marian Helpers Center in Stockbridge where he was also the Managing Editor of their quarterly magazine “Marian Helpers Bulletin”; and finally, as Financial Manager at Berkshire County ARC, from which he retired on December 31, 1997.
He enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, playing golf and watching sports on TV, especially the Boston Red Sox. Three of his favorite TV shows were “CBS Sunday Morning,” “BattleBots” and “To catch a Smuggler” and just about any show on Food Network. He was often the brunt of good-natured jokes from friends and family because of his preference for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
He married the former Lois Priscilla Auger on September 7, 1957 at St. Agnes Church in Dalton. She passed away in November, 2012 after 55 years of marriage.
Dick and his wife Lois spent many summers camping in their small tent/camper with their family on Cape Cod and were fortunate in spending 12 years of winter months in St. Petersburg, FL where they made many friends. Additionally, they traveled abroad to Spain, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland, as well as Mexico, Hawaii and Bermuda over the years. Most fondly remembered were the trips with good friends Anne and Parker Opperman.
Dick joined the Massachusetts Army Reserve National Guard in 1957 and served in the 1058th Transportation Co. in Pittsfield until 1963. He was President of the Queensboro Community Association in West Stockbridge in 1970. Dick served as Treasurer for eight years on the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Development Conference from 1970 to 1983. He was also a member of the Dalton High School Alumni Homecoming Committee. In 2009 he was asked to be Treasurer of the West Stockbridge Historical Society, a volunteer position he held for two years.
In the late 1970s he was asked by Jane Fitzpatrick to computerize Country Curtains’ mail order curtain business in Stockbridge. He provided the systems design for the company’s order entry and inventory control and his friend Frank Hall programmed their first IBM computer system.
After being diagnosed with COPD, he began pulmonary rehab at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, where he made many good friends.
He leaves two sons: Richard J. Brophy Jr of West Stockbridge and Raymond J. Brophy and his wife Kim of Dalton; two daughters, Cheryl A. Reynolds and her husband George of Otis, and Melanie A. Graf and her husband Matthew of Abington. He leaves five grandchildren: Rachel (Brophy) Bayliss and her husband Kevin, and Westly Brophy, Nathan Reynolds and Nicholas and Ian Graf and two great-grandsons Elliot Brophy, and Kieran Bayliss.
He was predeceased by his two brothers, John J. Brophy Jr. and Daniel F. Brophy and his two sisters, Kathleen Brophy Vosburgh, and Rosemary Brophy Boino.
FUNERAL NOTICE – At Dick’s request, there will be no calling hours or ceremony. Cremation and burial will be private, but the family will receive friends and relatives at Zucchini’s in Pittsfield from 12-4 on Saturday, Nov. 25th. Mr. Brophy requested the omission of flowers and Spiritual Bouquets, so-called “Mass cards.” If desired, donations may be made to Fairview Hospital, 32 Lewis Ave., Great Barrington, MA 01230.
