Richard Neil DeLongchamps
July 26, 1934 ~ November 23, 2020 (age 86) 86 Years Old
Richard DeLongchamps Obituary
Richard Neil (Ding) DeLongchamps passed away on November 23, 2020 from COVID-19 complications.
He was 86 years old.
Born on July 26, 1934, Ding was the second of six children born to Joseph A. and Rose M. (Trinque)
DeLongchamps. He graduated from Middleborough High School (MHS) in 1952 where it was prophesied
he would “become a millionaire after finding oil on his property and would gift a swimming pool to every
town resident”. Immediately following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as part
of Utility Squadron Ten in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Korean Conflict.
After his discharge in 1955, Ding found a passion for the theater, both on stage and behind the scenes.
He spent a brief period studying the art in Hollywood, CA and then returned to Middleborough where he
became involved in several local groups including The Little Theater Group, The Cranberry Players, and
Theatre One Productions. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, he enjoyed working with the Speech and
Theatre Workshop at MHS and becoming a mentor to many young thespians.
When not on the stage, Ding could be found behind the desk at the Middleboro Police Station where he
proudly used his clear, unaccented voice as a 911 Operator for nearly 20 years.
Of course, he was a fiercely loyal Patriots and Red Sox fan. That, and his visceral disdain for formalwear,
made the decision to inter him wearing his favorite Pats hoodie an easy one for his kids.
Predeceased by his parents and brothers Maurice and Francis, Ding is survived by his brothers Vincent
(Lucy) and Robert, and his sister Janet, his two children, Amy Lee and her husband Kwang Suk (Chinu)
Lee, and Neil DeLongchamps and his partner Jill Hudon, his granddaughter Harper Camille Edwards, his
ex-wife Sandra A. (Conant) Beyer, countless nieces and nephews, and his beloved grandpuppies Fredo,
Roma, and Na Bi.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Sippican Healthcare in Marion for taking such
wonderful care of him and serving as his de facto audience over the last year and a half. He loved you all
very much (even if it wasn’t always obvious)! Likewise, they would like to recognize the selfless heroes at
Tobey Hospital in Wareham – nursing, medical, and hospice staff - who worked tirelessly at great
personal risk to pull him through his battle with the virus and to ensure he was comfortable when it was
clear that battle wasn’t going to be won.
The family have decided that, out of an abundance of caution, a traditional wake and funeral will not be
held at this time. Not to deny Ding his final curtain call a memorial service will be planned for anyone
that is interested once it is deemed safe to do so.
The family asks that in honor of Ding, you continue to show your care for other humans by wearing a
mask.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Neil DeLongchamps, please visit our floral store.
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