Richard A. Mortenson

Richard A. Mortenson, age 90, of Stow, passed away on Sunday, October 8, with his children by his side. 

Born in Roxbury, MA, Dick was the son of Walmer P. and Ethel (Smith) Mortenson. He grew up in Hudson and spent the past seven decades as a resident of Stow. 

Dick graduated from Hudson High School in 1951, where he helped organize the prom and co-edited the yearbook. He earned Bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in engineering from Northeastern University. Dick enjoyed working with various collegiate organizations, including Northeastern’s student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as its chairman, the national engineering honorary fraternity Tau Beta Pi, and the N.U. engineering fraternity Beta Gamma Epsilon. 

Dick worked at IBM and Sylvania before joining General Radio (GenRad), where he worked as a mechanical and manufacturing engineer for 27 years. Following his retirement, Dick and his wife, Alice, were able to enjoy more time spent at their seasonal cottage in Maine and their condo in Naples, Florida. 

An active congregant of The Union Church of Stow (where he was married), Dick drew on his love of woodworking to craft and donate numerous wooden toys, birdhouses, wind chimes, Shaker furniture, picture frames, and knickknacks for church fairs. Dick was a member of DeMolay and the Masons. He was especially proud of his association with these fraternal organizations, becoming a Master Mason in the Doric Lodge of Hudson in 1956, earning a Veteran’s Medal in 2006 for 50 years of service to the Masons, and joining the Scottish Rite 32° in 2019. He was an active member of the Stow Lions Club and served as past president.

Dick also served Stow as an assessor, a fire engineer, an EMT, a surveyor of wood and lumber, and as a member of the Finance Committee, Stow Municipal Electric Department, and Stow Housing Authority. 

Dick adored his family. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years, Alice (Goucher) Mortenson, and by two brothers, David (of Winchester, MA) and Robert (of Omaha, NE). Dick is survived by son Eric Mortenson and wife Sharon of Hudson, NH; son Mark Mortensen and wife Irene of Tewksbury, NJ; daughter Suzanne Welch and husband Paul of Westford, MA; grandchildren Melissa, Heather, Sarah, Abigail, Luke, Lila, CJ, and Liam; and two great-grandchildren, Madison and Lincoln. 

A private memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dick to: 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Grand Central Station P.O. Box 4777

New York, NY 10163 

or at michaeljfox.org