Williamstown Remembers Richard DeMayo
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Richard DeMayo was remembered Thursday for his warmth, his knowledge, his smile and, most of all, his dedication to the town of Williamstown.
DeMayo, a civic leader who has served the town in a variety of capacities for decades, died on Thursday.
"He set an incredibly high standard of service," former Selectwoman Jane Allen said. "I think of the more recent committees he was appointed to. I'd see him on Sunday at church and things were an effort for him. He always had a wonderful smile and a positive outlook and he always said, 'Yes.' "
DeMayo said yes to appointments ranging from the Board of Selectmen to the Planning Board to the Affordable Housing Trust to his service this year on the search committee to name a new town manager.
The man DeMayo helped replace, retired Town Manager Peter Fohlin, remembered DeMayo as "totally selfless."
"While he may have been disappointed in others from time to time, I never knew him to speak a word in anger," Fohlin wrote in an email. "He offered himself in service to Williamstown well beyond anything we should have expected.
"He will continue to serve as both an inspiration and a standard of public service and personal integrity for us all."
Integrity is a word that often comes up in conversation about Richard DeMayo.
"Thinking of the Affordable Housing Trust — when it was proposed, it wasn't completely embraced by the town," Allen said. "There were people who had real concerns about the formation of this committee and the authority the committee would have.
"Dick was the community representative on the committee because he had huge credibility in the town. And people knew that if Dick was on the committee, it was OK.
"I think that's one of the highest compliments you can give somebody: that they're seen as credible. And he had that."
In 1995, Richard and Carol DeMayo, who own Bonnie Lea Farm on North Street, were given the town's Faith R. Scarborough Community Service Award.
For some people, the honor might have been seen as a lifetime achievement award. The DeMayos spent the next 20 years finding new ways to be of service.
"He never stopped," Allen said. "That was the amazing thing. Even though there were times, I'm sure, when he didn't feel like going to some of these night meetings, he knew the town needed him."
Former Selectman Thomas Sheldon, who recruited DeMayo to the Affordable Housing Trust and Town Manager Search Committee, agreed.
"He was on more boards, commissions and committees than anyone other than Carol could count," Sheldon said.
"Whenever I saw him in action, including on committees, he was knowledgeable, hands on, generous with his time, collegial — a real team player."
Sheldon and Allen both said they relied on DeMayo as a source of institutional memory in town government.
"He had what I've called an encyclopedic knowledge of the town," Sheldon said. "There was simply no one else who could provide what he was able to provide in terms of the wealth of information about the town and individual properties in the town and their histories and the families who lived in those homes."
In addition to his service in official town capacities, DeMayo served the town behind the scenes, including his work with wife Carol, the director of the Williamstown Food Pantry.
"Dick was one of the kindest, gentlest, most generous men I've ever known: A man of faith, devoted to his family, and always of good humor," Catherine Yamamoto said. "He and Carol had their ear to the ground and were always ready to provide food, clothing and shelter whenever and to whomever was in need.
"It was my privilege to serve on the Affordable Housing Trust board with Dick, who was so generous with his time on behalf of his community."
The Rev. Wayne Biernat, a close friend and pastor of the DeMayos during his ministry at Sts. Patrick and Raphael Parish, will return to town from East Longmeadow to perform a Mass of Christian Burial next week.
"Every person I have spoken to since Dick DeMayo passed has reiterated the same thing over and over again: If you would like to know the love of Jesus Christ, you would know by encountering Dick DeMayo's heart," Biernat said on Friday morning.
Stanley Parese, who crossed paths with DeMayo in and out of town government over the years, echoed the thoughts of many: that Williamstown suffered a great loss with DeMayo's passing.
"I would describe him as profoundly decent, righteous, kind, honest, caring," Parese said. "In the not-too-distant future, there will be a time to celebrate his wonderful life and how honorably he lived it. But right now, it's just so heart-breaking."
Parese also offered a glimpse into how DeMayo's can-do spirit served the town as recently as this summer as he dealt with serious health issues.
"This year on the Affordable Housing Trust, we ... acquired two lots, and it occurred to us as an after thought that we better make arrangements to cut the grass," Parese recalled. "So we recognized that and set an agenda item for one of the Trust members to inquire of local landscapers.
"When we came back for our meeting in August or September, Dick said, 'I just put my tractor on the equipment trailer and went and cut it.' That's part of the farmer or tradesman in him, I guess. We were all sitting around wanting to form a committee to address it. He said, 'If there's a problem, just go fix it.' "
Tags: local figure, remembrance,
