Obituaries

Richard James Hastings

Dr. Richard “Dick” James Hastings passed away at his home after bravely battling cancer, with the grace and equanimity that defined his life.

Born in Groton, N.Y. Jan. 7, 1933, to Katherine McCarthy Hastings and Timothy James Hastings, Dick attended Groton High School and was valedictorian of his class. He played football at Dartmouth College and graduated in 1955. After spending two years in the Navy as a lieutenant (junior grade) on the USS Pawcatuck, Dick graduated from Dartmouth/Cornell Medical School in 1961.

Dick practiced orthopedics at Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead for over 30 years. He served as chief of surgery and also as a trustee at the hospital. He was also on staff at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport and Southampton Hospital for many years. From 1988 to 1989, Dick served as chairman of the Orthopedic Society of Suffolk County.

Dick retired from his medical practice in 2000 and moved to Woodstock, Vt. He was a Civil War buff, avid tennis player, enthusiastic gardener, entertaining poet and challenging quizmaster.

Dick was predeceased by his two sisters, Helen and Marie. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jill; two children and their spouses, Cary and Jim Plamondon of Frederick, Md. and Timothy and Kim Hastings of Jacksonville, Fla.; six grandchildren, Jay, Brian, Kathryn, Alex, Kate and Claire; mother-in-law and sister-in-law Barbara (Corwin) Folk and Debbie Wetzel and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial mass was celebrated Jan. 4 at Our Lady of the Snows in Woodstock, Vt. Interment and a memorial service will take place in the spring in Hanover, N.H. at a date to be determined. An online guest book can be found at cabotfh.com.

This is a paid notice.