Belchertown, MA – Richard A. Bannister, known to all as Dick, was born on June 27, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Robert C. and Ruth (Allen) Banniser and was raised on Long Island. He died of heart failure on December 18, 2025 after a brief hospitalization at Baystate Wing Memorial.
As a boy he was totally devoted to the Brooklyn Dodgers; when they left Brooklyn, he moved on to the Mets and in New England, he added the Red Sox. His knowledge of baseball was total and inclusive. He could swap stories and stats endlessly with anyone who liked baseball as much as he did.
After he completed his AB and MA degrees at Yale, Columbia and Hofstra universities he and his wife, Judy moved up to Massachusetts where Dick taught at Berkshire Community College before enrolling at UMASS to pursue his PhD in literature. He taught briefly at Holyoke Community College, then began his lifelong career as a stamp specialist, both here and in New York City. He was a scholarly man who loved reading history and literature. Stamps were his professional interest and when he wasn’t watching baseball he devoted much of his time to them too.
Dick is predeceased by his only brother Robert, who died earlier this year in Florida. He is survived by his wife, the former Judith Tillotson; his son Jared and wife Nancy; and his daughter Cassandra and her husband Bill Fitzpatrick, and their children Brendan, Deirdre Savoie and Sinead. He was especially proud to be a great-grandfather to Deirdre’s children with Cam Savoie, Maggie and Molly.
Dick’s family will hold private services.
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