Richard Lewis Prouty died peacefully on March 24, 2021 following a brief illness lovingly surrounded by his family and his wife, Kim.
Richard was born in Springfield, MA on February 2, 1976 and moved to Mattapoisett with his family in 1981. He attended Friends Academy in Dartmouth, Old Rochester Regional High School, Castleton University in Castleton, VT graduating with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Music. He attended Berklee School of Music before graduating from the Institute of Health Professions, Boston, with a Master of Science in Nursing. He worked for several years as a Nurse Practitioner giving specialized care working with neurosurgeons and orthopedic hand surgeons. His work with his patients was personal and deeply caring. He also was a partial owner of The Speedwell Tavern in Plymouth, MA.
Richard was a gifted musician and held a lifelong passion for music in many forms. A member of the local Loose Cannon Orchestra, he excelled in jazz organ and piano and was always willing to create and share his music with others.
He was an avid adventurer whether it was traveling cross country from skate park to skate park while also exploring the wilderness, or captaining the mighty “Beagle” offshore in search of tuna and mahi-mahi. He also won the North Atlantic Shark Tournament in 2014 with a group of great friends. Richard was a lover of all animals great and small throughout his life.
A skateboarder, a remote car racer, an artist and framer, a photographer. He selflessly built a skateboard park for all to enjoy in New Bedford. His kindness and joy in life was never ending. We are all the richer for knowing and loving him. As a dear friend says, “The world will never recover from his loss”.
Richard is survived by his wife, Kim, his parents, Lewis and Jennifer Prouty; his sister Hilary Vineyard and her husband Sam and their son, Oliver; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Caroline and Justin Manzone, and their children, Pepper and Tucker; and many cousins, aunts and uncles, and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fairhaven Animal Shelter or the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
His memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, April 6th from 4-8 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett.
Please be advised that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are strict guidelines that must be adhered to for the safety of everyone. You MUST wear a mask to be allowed entry to the services. Please practice social distancing and avoid any close contact. Guests will be permitted to pay their respects and depart to allow the next guests to enter. Capacity at the funeral home will be limited so there could be wait times outside the funeral home.
