Shrewsbury – Vincent A. Ricardi, a Shrewsbury resident for over 60 years, passed away peacefully with his wife by his side Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 after a period of declining health. He was 91.
Vincent is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Marie C. (Porter) Ricardi; his two sisters, Theresa Woodman of Sterling and Virginia Soloperto and her husband Remo of Auburn; a sister-in-law, Lorraine Ricardi of West Boylston; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. A brother, James P. Ricardi, predeceased him.
Born in Worcester, Vincent was the son of Frank and America M. (Tomassini) Ricardi; He graduated from Commerce High School and Worcester Boys trade, and attended Worcester Junior College. He had lived in Shrewsbury since 1952.
Vincent was a U.S. Navy veteran of both World War II and Korea. After being discharged, he accepted a position with the U.S. Army Research & Development Laboratory “Natick Labs” in Natick, where he worked more than 29 years before retiring in 1987.
A simple and gentle man who cherished the years he had with his wife, Vincent found great joy watching golf and football games with her. He enjoyed his work and the contributions he made at work. Notably, he was honored for several of inventions to the U.S. Armed Forces he came up with, helping to ease the burden and better serve the soldiers in the field and conflict areas.
Relatives and friends are invited to a period of calling hours Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 4-6 p.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. His funeral will be held Thursday, Jan. 7 from the funeral home, with a procession to St. Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Tpke., where his funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
