Mr. Richard Leo (Dick) Cocci, 74, of Lake Suzy, Florida, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2009 at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Richard was born December 14, 1935 in Leominster, Massachusetts to the late Amelio J. and Charlotte (nee-Flagg) Cocci. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp., Richard served during the closing months of the Korean War and into the Cold War era. Returning home, Richard completed his Masters degree in Education at Columbia University and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Assumption College to begin a 30 year career with the Leominster Public School System, retiring as Director of Special Education in 1993. He and his wife Judith, first began to winter at Lake Suzy in 2005, while continuing to live and summer in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. He was a member of the B. P. O. Elks Lodge of Leominster, MA, and was of the Roman Catholic faith.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Judith Ann (nee-Harrison) Cocci; and son, Richard (Rick) Cocci of Boston, MA; and step-mother, Frances Cocci of Dunnellon, FL. Richard was preceded in death just days before by his only sister, Barbara Kaminski, on December 28, 2009.