Mr. Richard A. MacWhinnie

Richard was born on February 18, 1940, in Pittsfield, MA, to the late Harry And Evelyn Proctor MacWhinnie. He attended Pittsfield schools. As a teenager he learned his work ethic working alongside his mother at Baker’s Farm in Lanesboro. He loved the outdoors and later worked as groundskeeper at a golf course. He moved to Lenox in 1968 to work for the Lenox School for Boys and its various incarnations as Groundskeeper and Caretaker. He remained taking care of the property until it was sold in 1976. He then moved on to be Caretaker of the Dormers property in Lenox until 1985. He finished out his career working for the Crosbys in Tyringham and later in Lenox until his body would no longer allow him to do such work. He and his wife of 50+ years enjoyed their Friday nights out, Saturday breakfast along with a trip to a shopping mall, craft fairs or maybe just a ride finding new places to visit and new people to meet with his best friends, his sister and brother-in-law. The 4 of them had fun no matter where they went, NYC, Salisbury Beach, Lake George or Atlantic City. They always came back home with stories. Sundays were always about a Sunday drive and a dinner out. More recently until his illness progressed, he enjoyed a Sunday drive to the Schodack Diner for 2 pancakes and 2 sausage. Richard had a lifelong love of animals. Throughout his life he had hamsters, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, birds and even peacocks. He was especially fond of “Billy” the Bull and his pet goat “Daisy.” In addition, he took care of the horses, cows and the sheep in Tyringham and had a fondness for “Jamie” the sheep and “Fonte” the pig. He most recently lost his beloved Persian cat, Pearl who passed in 2020. He took pride in every home he lived. He enjoyed renovating each fixer upper. He loved to paint and had a knack for wallpapering. He beautified every yard. He would dig and prepare the dirt and his wife; Rosalie would do the planting. Between the two of them they had the best-looking yard and gardens no matter where they lived. Their home was where many parties, holidays, picnics and beloved family gatherings were held. Life was never quite the same when his wife passed away. He never did call her by her name, Rosalie. It was Cupcake or Lovey. They were inseparable and did everything together. After her death in 2014 and before Alzheimer's robbed him of the things he once knew he spent his days with his cat Pearl and took daily trips to the three grocery stores and did what he called Walmart Wednesday, socializing with the customers and more so with the employees. He enjoyed a monthly bus trip to Atlantic City and mostly enjoyed sitting on his deck soaking up the sun and listening to his country music. The last 22 months of his life he spent at Lee Healthcare, still enjoying sitting outside in the garden watching and listening to the birds. He leaves behind his devoted daughter and son-in-law Robin and Carl Tiernan of Lenox, with whom he made his home for the past 25 years. He also leaves his daughter Debra and Michael Coyle of Becket and his sister and brother-in-law June and Chuck Gibbons of Lenox, and his three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Harry, Donald, and Gerald. He was also predeceased by his daughter, Lynn Ann who died in 1962.

Mr. Richard A. MacWhinnie

February 18, 1940 - June 14, 2026