Richard L. Lewis

Richard Laurence Lewis, 84, of Wareham passed peacefully, listening to jazz at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. He was originally from New York, the youngest son of the late Hazel Lenore Gray and Philip Edward Gray.

Living in New York, Richard was exposed to jazz - and that is where his love for jazz was born. He was an accomplished classical pianist. As a teenager Richard worked in the garment district in New York City pushing clothing racks. After graduating from high school he went to Baruch College, studying math and business at the Bernard Baruch School of Business. Richard was also a great mathematician, which combined with his natural sales skills led him to a career as a salesman first in Connecticut and then in Massachusetts, where he later formed his own company, manufacturing cardboard shipping containers.

Richard is survived by his baby sister Phyliss (Gregory) Carr, beloved children, grandchildren, a sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and a host of family and friends. Because being practical and smart was always at the heart of Richard’s requests, the family  held a memorial zoom service on Friday, May 15, 2020. 

Richard now joins his two older brothers, Ralph Robert Lewis and Claude Aubrey Lewis, in Heaven. They are undoubtedly pulling shenanigans, laughing, dancing and listening to jazz together.

In lieu of flowers please consider 

Jazz Foundation of America
247 West 37 Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10018
Tel: 1-212-245-3999
Email: info@jazzfoundation.org
Web: https://jazzfoundation.org/donate/

Or

Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02115
Tel: 1-617-266-1400
Email: 2238@berklee.edu
Web: http://www.berklee.edu/giving

See links below.

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