Bob Rich, a longtime resident of Westwood, passed away on March 18th 2026.
Born on July 3, 1957, he was the son of Pearl and Irving Rich. He graduated from Framingham North High School in 1975, Springfield College in 1979, and UCLA in 1982.
He married Luanne (Ferguson), whom he met at UCLA, and they were married for 38 years.
Bob loved sports and looked at life through an athletic lens. Although he enjoyed all sports, he especially loved lacrosse and running. Sports were not only his avocation, they were also his vocation. He worked for various organizations in the sports, science and health fields, including the US Olympic Committee, Harvard Business School, and Reebok, where he spent the bulk of his career in various R&D roles.
Volunteering was an important part of his life. While working, he coached youth lacrosse for 16 years and was president of Westwood Youth Lacrosse for eight years. He also volunteered at the Westwood Community Chest and Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. In retirement, he spent his time volunteering at Meals on Wheels, New Life Furniture Bank, and with regular visits to elderly residents in Westwood to provide meals, home repair, rides and companionship.
Bob was very interested in personal development, especially health and fitness, and spent time studying and implementing lifestyle changes to improve his life and the lives of others. He loved to cook healthy, nutritious meals for his family and others.
Bob was passionate about Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, and his cherished friendships with those from that community spanned over 60 years until his death. It was at Camp Becket where he learned the values of being a good person and service to others, which he aspired to achieve throughout his life.
He was proudest of his family and is survived by his wife Luanne and their 3 children: Kelly and husband Paul Jorgensen of Jamaica Plain, MA; Kate of Alexandria, VA; and Tom and wife Emily of San Francisco, CA, as well as two grandchildren, Cameron Jorgensen and Nathan Jorgensen. He was also survived by his older sister Amy Schneck of Clifton, VA as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday April 18th at the Concord Scout House in Concord, MA. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 AM.
For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, 748 Hamilton Road, Becket, MA 01223.
