Richard E. "Dick" Aldrich, 90, entered into eternal rest on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Born in Greenfield, son of the late Leander E. and Mildred V. (Holt) Aldrich, he lived in Florence until the age of four when the family moved to Pelham where his father grew up.  His mother was raised in South Amherst.  Dick attended the Pelham Elementary School, Amherst Junior High and Amherst High School and graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1951.  He attended the University of Massachusetts before enlisting in the United States Air Force and was a Korean era veteran, and served as a Thermal Nuclear Weapons Specialist attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the American Defense Medal.  While in the service, he married his wife, the former Therese Marie Leblanc in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada on November 10, 1956.  After his discharge he returned to UMASS and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  After graduation, he was employed for two years with the Prudential Life Insurance Company.  In 1963 he joined Nationwide Insurance as an agent in the Amherst area.  In 1968 he was promoted to Special Agent and then to District Manager in the Worcester area.  He returned to agency work in 1971 and moved to Feeding Hills and established the R. E. Aldrich Insurance Agency.  He remained with Nationwide for the next twenty-three years winning numerous sales awards.  He was the first Nationwide Agent in Massachusetts to attain his Chartered Life Underwriter professional designation in 1974.  He served as an usher and was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church for over forty years and was a past parish council member.  He was elected President of the Agawam Chamber of Commerce in 1986 and served for many years on the Board of Directors. He is a member of the American Legion Post 185 and past member of the Agawam Lions Club.  He sponsored many baseball and basketball teams of the Agawam Athletic Association over many years. Dick volunteered for the Easter Seal Telethon for many years and raised several thousands of dollars.  He was an avid table tennis player from a young age and was a past member of the Bay State Table Tennis Club in Springfield.  He retired in 1994 and in 1995 moved with Therese to Castle Hill Condominiums.  He leaves his daughter, Frances Laveck and her fiance, Michael Luciani of Southwick, his granddaughters, Heather Fazio and her husband Joseph of Belchertown, Tanya Laveck and her fiance, Josh Fraser of Granville, and the loves of his life, his great-grandchildren, Gianvana Marie Fazio and Nico Fazio of Belchertown and Brody Lanpher and Leona Lanpher of Granville.  Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of over fifty-five years, Therese Marie (Leblanc) Aldrich and his brother, Lee Aldrich.  He also leaves many nieces and nephews.  The funeral will be Thursday at 10am from the AGAWAM CURRAN JONES FUNERAL HOME, 745 Cooper Street followed by a Mass at Sacred Heart Church at 11. Calling hours are Wednesday from 4-7pm. For online condolences, please visit www.curranjones.com