Richard Eugene Willis died in his sleep on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at his lakeside home in  Salem, New Hampshire. He was 80.

He was the husband of Anna Cryvoff Willis, brother to Thomas, father of Annika, Benjamin, Christopher and Matthew, and grandfather to seven grandchildren. He was a musician, a project manager, a community volunteer, a pilot and the best neighbor you could wish for. He was funny, self-deprecating, humble, generous and had a knack for embarking on small adventures when you  least expected it.

Richard was born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts on Nov 26, 1941, the oldest of two sons of Eugene and Lucia Briggs Willis. He spent his early years in Milford and Claremont, NH. Much of his childhood in the late 1940s and early 50s was filled with neighborhood mischief, chemistry experiments gone awry,  pony riding and escapades in the woods. He loved being a counselor at summer camps, taking young kids on cross-country trips, and playing the drums.

He was in the marching band at Stevens High School in Claremont, NH, which performed in Dwight D. Eisenhower's second presidential inauguration parade on January 20, 1957. At the University of New Hampshire, he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry in 1963. While at UNH, he began drumming with jazz musicians at local clubs. He continued his academic pursuit of chemistry for a brief time at the masters program at Syracuse University. While there, he gave into chemistry of a different sort when he met his future wife, Anna Cryvoff of Durhamville, NY. They were married after a brief engagement on December 17, 1966.

After the birth of their first child, Christopher, the couple bought a home on Canobie Lake in Salem, NH, which they lived in for the rest of their lives.

Richard was a detail-oriented project manager for defense contractor Sanders Associates (later Lockheed then BAE Systems) in Nashua, NH. But, he continued to pursue his passion of music playing jazz gigs in the Portsmouth area. He was also a drummer for The Shaw Brothers – a folk duo known for "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (known as the Coca-Cola song).

Humble about his own achievements, he proudly celebrated the accomplishments of his wife (self-publishing her book), children and grandchildren. He was always quick with a smile and kind words. He loved making up new games with his children, finding laughter in everyday situations – rarely taking anything too seriously. He enjoyed giving back to his community through music ministry at Saint Joseph Church in Salem, NH and Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, NH and helping those in need at the Lazarus House in Lawrence, MA.

He enjoyed the simpler pleasures like relaxed summer days on the beaches of Maine or delectable treats like his famous deep fried tacos,  lobster rolls, and, inexplicably,  Moxie soda. He loved Canobie Lake and would update family on the latest activity of migrating loons and eagles. On clear nights, he loved to set up his telescope and take in the joy of a starry sky.

Richard will be missed by his four children, Christopher Willis and wife Karla of Heber City, UT,  Matthew Willis and partner Sara Bennet Wolfe of Stratford, CT, Annika Willis Scanlon and husband Brian of Reading, MA, and Benjamin Willis and wife Erin of Burbank, CA; his brother Thomas Willis and wife Robin of Salem, NH, brother-in-law Serge Cryvoff and wife Helen of Fishkill, NY; his seven grandchildren, Hannah, Samuel and Sierra Willis, Luke Bennett Willis, and Bridget, Nathaniel, and Michael Scanlon, his nieces and nephew Cathy Cryvoff, and Sarah and Joshua Willis, as well as countless friends.

Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday, January 28 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 St., Salem, NH. Covid precautions such as masks and social distancing will be observed for the visitation and for the funeral Mass.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 29 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Church, 40 Main St, Salem, NH. Please arrive by 10:45 AM.  Burial will be at a later date in Pine Grove Cemetery in Salem.

For those who wish to watch online, a livestream of the memorial will be available in the lower right hand corner of our website, www.douglasandjohnson.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the Lazarus House Ministries, 412 Hampshire St. Lawrence, MA 01841, and The Upper Room, 36 Tsienneto Rd. Derry, NH 03038.

A copy of the eulogy can be seen by clicking on the following link

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wnHQGg-L-xjigDXi2HfB9Gg38hZtzpTfOFOPTW9iiww/edit