Richard Laurence Lacey, retired Fire Chief of Lawrence, Mass., 85, died July 3, 2009. Born in Lawrence, Chief Lacey moved to Barefoot Bay in 1981. He was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church and previously served as a Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, Lawrence Fire Department Mutual Relief Association, Massachusetts Permanent Firemen’s Association, New England Association of Fire Chiefs, VFW Post #4425, BPO Elks, Lawrence, Mass., Lodge #65, Knights of Columbus-Lawrence, Mass., Council #67. He was also a member of the Men’s Guild of St. Luke’s, the Barefoot Bay Computer Club, Garden Club, Irish-American Club, Italian-American Club, Little Theater, the New England Club and Spinners and Twirlers Square Dancers. Chief Lacey graduated with Great Distinction from Lawrence High School, class of 1941. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946, European Theater of Operations. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science at North Shore Community College in Beverly, Mass. He joined the Lawrence Fire Department in 1948. He served as Fire Chief from 1975-1981. He was a First Aid Instructor for the Lawrence Chapter of the American Red Cross for 30 years and on the Board of Directors for six years. He was the founder of the Lawrence Firefighters’ Credit Union and served as Treasurer and Manager of the Credit Union from 1955-1975. He also served as Radiological Defense Officer for the Lawrence Civil Defense Department and was an Instructor of Radiological Monitoring for the Massachusetts Department of Education. Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Rose Mary (Tuso) Lacey; two daughters, Linda, of North Andover, Mass., and Janet of Penn Valley, Pa.; four grandchildren; sister, Julie Cebula, of Binghampton, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Louise (Makowski) Lacey, three sisters and six brothers. A memorial mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Lawrence, Mass., at a later date. No calling hours are scheduled. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the William Child’s Hospice House, 381 Medplex Parkway, Palm Bay, FL 32907. Call (321) 434-8400.Arrangements by Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory, Sebastian. Condolences may be sent to Seawindsfh.com/obit.php.
