Hopedale’s Richard E. Hale, Sr. Remembered for Steady Leadership

Hopedale, MA, September 26, 2025

News Summary

The community of Hopedale, MA, remembers Richard E. Hale, Sr. for his extraordinary contributions as a dedicated leader, loving family man, and passionate golf enthusiast. His steady presence and exceptional communication skills made a lasting impact, not only within his family but throughout his military and corporate careers. A devoted husband for 68 years and proud father, his legacy will be honored during the upcoming funeral service. Hale’s life reflects a rich tapestry of service, family values, and cherished memories shared with generations.

Hopedale, MA — Big Life, Small Green: Richard E. Hale, Sr. Remembered

In a town that treats its community stories like a perfect nine-hole comeback, the life of Richard E. Hale, Sr. read like a steady round — consistent, quietly strong, and loaded with moments that warmed the clubhouse. Golf fans and neighbors alike will nod at the steady leadership, the clubhouse charm, and the way he treated his family like his favorite set of clubs: well cared for and ready for any shot.

Final Round

Richard E. Hale, Sr. passed away peacefully on September 11, 2025, at the age of 91 due to stroke-related issues. That final putt closed out a life that stretched back to the 1930s and played across military service, corporate fairways, and family greens.

Early Tees and Life on the Links

He was born on January 16, 1934, in Gardner, MA, to parents Leslie and Florence (Slade) Hale. From those roots, he forged a knack for leadership and conversation that made him a natural captain, whether on the high school football field or later in life when guiding others through decisions like a steady caddie.

Leadership and the Gifted Swing of Words

Richard was known for his leadership skills and exceptional communication abilities, often described as having a “gift of gab.” That charm was the kind of personality that can rally a foursome after a bad hole and calm a crew when the weather turns. It’s the same skill set many club captains and long-time pros rely on: connection, direction, and the ability to read the room — or the fairway.

Family — His Favorite Course

He was a devoted husband to Ethel (Federici) Hale for 68 years. That’s a long partnership — the kind of steady relationship that golfers admire: long-term commitment, mutual respect, and years of perfecting a rhythm together.

He was a loving father to three children: Richard E. Hale, Jr. of Hopedale, Candace L. (Hale) Belley of Rouses Point, NY, and David P. Hale of Milford, MA. Family came first, and those kids grew up watching a dad who mixed discipline with warmth — the kind of coaching that prepares you for life’s tournament.

Service and the Long Drive

He served in the Army for 7 years, achieving the rank of Captain. Military service shaped his discipline and leadership, traits that translate easily to captaining a team on the weekend or handling the pressure of a final hole with cool precision.

Work Life — Corporate Fairways

Richard worked for 20 years as a corporate purchasing agent for Sieler’s of Waltham, MA. That career was his day job, his course management. Twenty years in purchasing means he knew how to choose the right clubs — and the right deals — every time the situation called for it.

Hobbies and High School Glory

He loved yard projects and tinkering the way a golf fanatic loves fine-tuning a putter. He also carried pride from his high school playing days. He enjoyed projects in his yard and had fond memories of his high school football career in Gardner, where he set multiple rushing and touchdown records. Those records read like tournament stats — a streak people remember for decades.

Grandkids and Miniature Golf

The walk-on-the-course joys were simple: pancakes, laughs, and mini-golf victories. He is survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, whom he cherished and enjoyed taking out for pancakes and miniature golf. That’s the kind of family ritual every golf-loving grandparent smiles about — the joy of passing on love of the game, even if it’s the tiny plastic windmills rather than real birdies.

Services and Where to Pay Respects

A funeral service will take place at 2 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Union Evangelical Church, located at 25 Dutcher Street, Hopedale, MA. After the service, a reception will follow at Willowbrook Restaurant in Mendon, MA. The family plans Burial will occur at a later date at Hopedale Village Cemetery, Hopedale.

The obituary was posted online on September 26, 2025. Friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts will remember a man who led with charm, who loved his family as he loved a steady round of golf: measured, patient, and full of heart.

Why Golf Fans Will Relate

As a golf writer would note, Richard’s life had the hallmarks of a steady journeyman pro: early athletic glory, disciplined service, decades at a single organization, and a love for small, meaningful rituals (pancakes, miniature golf) shared with the next generation. His story is the sort that gets passed along at the club bar — the quiet legend who never blew a gasket and always had time for one more hole.

FAQ

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Quick Reference Table

For those who keep score on life the way they do on the back nine, Richard’s record is one that reads solid and true: service, steady work, family ties, and the small pleasures that make every round worth playing.

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Additional Resources

• MetroWest Daily News: Richard E. Hale, Sr.
• Wikipedia: Obituary
• Buma Funeral Home: Richard E. Hale, Sr.
• Google Search: Richard E. Hale MA
• Legacy: Richard E. Hale, Sr.
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Obituary
• Legacy: Nancy Graham
• Google News: Hopedale MA
• Legacy: Ronald LeBlanc
• Legacy: Helen Cormier

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