Richard F. Novak

Richard F. Novak, June 5, 1925 - August 7, 2020. 
Greenport, NY and Gloucester, MA 
He went sky diving at age 90. Just a few weeks ago, at age 95, he was speeding around ocean bays in a boat. Raised in New Jersey, he was drafted into WWII infantry at age 18, and survived shelling in the Vosges Forest, but rarely spoke about the war afterwards. His postwar life led him to Brown University. There he met the love of his life, Joyce, and they married after graduation in 1951. Over his 40 years working in sales for IBM, and continuing afterwards, Dick and Joyce moved many places, including as far afield as living on a sailboat in St. John, US Virgin Islands. But the home of his heart was overlooking Ipswich Bay in Annisquam, Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he spent as much time as possible re-arranging the coastline boulders and tinkering with old boats, old Cadillacs, old Willys Army jeeps, and a wide variety of other old items- preferably those with motors (working or not)- that he could find in newspaper ads or discarded on curbs around town. He loved to drive, anywhere, anytime- a car, a boat, a bargain. He had a dry sense of humor and loved a good party, a good dog, and a good martini. He imbued his four children with a strong sense of honesty, perspective, and above all, the importance of always comparing gas station prices. 
He has joined his beloved wife of 68 years, Joyce B. Novak, his sister Janet N. Pamp, and all of his friends-in-adventure at the eternal cocktail party. He leaves four children: Christine A. Novak (Venetia Hands), of Orient, NY, Richard S. Novak (Peggy S. Novak) of Sherborn, MA, Thomas D. Novak of Gloucester, MA, and Lisa J. deBurlo (Gilbert Frayer) of Taos, NM, and five grandchildren, as well his special caregiver, Marina Avlakhashvili.
Services will be scheduled at a later, non-COVID-impacted date. 


 

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