Richard James Noonan

Richard James Noonan, 94, of Shrewsbury, died Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at home.

His wife of 48 years, Ethel M. (Charles) Noonan, passed away in 1997.

Dick leaves three children, Dr. Susan J. Noonan of Wellesley, Joseph P. Noonan and his wife Wei of San Diego, CA., and Patricia N. Benson and her husband David of Boxford; four grandchildren, Claire and Hahnlin Noonan, and Peter and Hannah Benson; and several nieces and nephews. In addition, he leaves his longtime companion, Mrs. Mary Maher of Shrewsbury. He was predeceased by his brothers, Raymond, William, Robert and Francis Noonan, and his sister Kathryn Schiavone.

Dick was born in Boston, son of Walter C. and Gertrude G. (Moynihan) Noonan.  He grew up in Somerville and South Worcester attending Classical High School and has lived in Shrewsbury since 1995.  He also spent several winters in Florida. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and was a veteran of World War II. Richard served in the Eighth Army Engineers as Topo Surveyor: WW II 1945 – 1948. He was in both Japan and Korea.

After his military service, he graduated from New England School of Accounting in 1949 as president of his class and later attended Clark University.

In 1950, he began his public accounting career with the Worcester accounting firm of George. A. Smith & Co. and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1956.  He became a partner at George. A. Smith in 1963.  George A. Smith merged with the national accounting firm KPMG in 1978, and Dick became a partner at KPMG.  In 1983, he was named KPMG Eastern Regional Managing Partner and he continued in that role until he reached the firm’s mandatory retirement age in 1989.  He was a lifelong member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

In 2000, Dick became a partner in the ownership of Parker Metal Corp. where he had been a board director for many years. He was an officer and played an active role there until the company was sold in 2008.

Dick shared his wisdom and counsel with many companies as a board director including Husky Wireway Co., the Coghlin Companies, Burton Saw, Washburn-Garfield Corp., The Protector Group, E.J. Cross Co., Commonwealth Bank, St. Vincent Hospital, The Worcester Club, Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul.

Dick was a longtime parishioner of Christ the King Church in Worcester, and he was a Life Member of Worcester Country Club and The Worcester Club.

Since 2010, Dick has been an active sponsor of DetecTogether, formerly the 15-40 Connection, which is devoted to the early detection of cancer.

There will be a wake on Wednesday, August 31, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant St., Worcester. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. in the church. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s memory may be made to DetecTogether, 53 Otis St., Westborough, MA 01581 (www.detectogether.org).