Richard A. Spencer

Spencer, Richard A. of Medfield, formerly of Blackstone, Westwood, Walpole and West Bridgewater died September 15th, 2020 at age 93. Pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 53 years, Ruth L. Spencer. Father of Warren and his wife Concetta of Plainville, Douglas and his wife Christine of Walpole and Gordon and his wife Caron of Plainville. Grandfather to eight grandchildren: Cassandra, Nicholas, Maxwell, Zachary, Taylor, Jessica, Timothy and Mason. Born in Boston, raised in Mattapan, Dick as he was called, studied music and played Saxophone and Clarinet. He left school early to enlist in the Coast Guard during World War II. Served in the Pacific theater aboard the USS Samuel Chase, most notably Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, and landings in Okinawa, Japan. After the war he studied music theory at Berklee College of Music in Boston and developed unique skills of music arrangement and band leading. His hobby of free hand drawing and calligraphy enabled him to handwrite detailed music arrangements using fountain pen and ink, drawing out complete charts for Big Band, Swing, Jazz, and contemporary music. He would lead the Dick Spencer Orchestra for the next thirty years playing ballrooms and dance halls in the area. He founded the Westwood Community Jazz Band and continued his writing and arrangement business, SMC Arrangements, to include custom ordered charts online for the remainder of his life. He gave his time freely to the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts organization as a parent, assistant, and leader from 1975 – 1984, Pack 1 and Troop 3 Westwood. Volunteer member to committees of St John's Episcopal Church in Westwood 1981 - 1987. By day he was employed by Briggs and Briggs Music of Boston, Vice President of Alden Music of Walpole, formally of Westwood, and developed import and distribution of musical instruments and equipment, most notably Sonor drums from Germany, Zildjian and Sabian cymbals, and Vic Firth sticks. In 1985 he went on his own and started SMC of Norwood, formally of Hingham. Later employment was easy to find as he was extremely organized and couldn't be outworked, he gained employment as a BayBank operations manager in Waltham and a U.S. Postmaster in Smithfield R.I. Dick was a proud New England sports fan, and followed the Red Sox every move followed by the Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots. Due to Covid restrictions the family has chosen a private service and interment service at the New Westwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting music programs in schools and local music venues.