Richard M. Ledonne

, . Richard M. Ledonne died peacefully on May 7, 2025, in Peabody, MA. Dick, as he was known throughout his life, was born in Melrose, MA on January 4, 1938, to the late Michael and Gertrude (LaRue) Ledonne.

Dick grew up in the Maplewood Square section of Malden, MA. He loved playing baseball and was a star player on the Malden High School baseball team where he graduated in 1955. He served six months in the Army and 5 ½ years in the Army Reserves while going to college from 1959-1965. He went on to graduate from Bentley College, Suffolk University, and Northeastern University where he received his MBA in Accounting in 1968. Dick worked as an accountant for most of his professional career. In his later years, he was a chauffeur for various limousine services.

Dick and his wife Judy (Judith Gardner Irvine) married in 1960 and moved to Wakefield in 1964 to raise their family. He loved Wakefield and enjoyed spending time at Lake Quannapowitt. He, as well as his family, were parishioners of the First Parish Congregational church.

Dick had a zest for life and knew how to live life to the fullest. Saturday nights were always special for Dick and Judy. They enjoyed dining at the finest restaurants, going to the theatre, dancing, and the movies. They loved to entertain company in their later years together. They traveled all over the world, but Sarasota, FL was their favorite place. Dick loved taking his family on getaways; and he was always planning his next adventure with them.

Dick was also a sports fanatic. He enjoyed Wakefield High school basketball and football sports teams; and he would travel to their games where he made lifelong friendships. However, there was no greater love for him than the New England Patriots. He was a diehard Pat’s fan and a season ticket holder from 1966-2011. Rain, sleet, snow, or cold could not deter him from missing a Patriots game. There was not a Patriots football statistic that he did not know. He never gave up hope for the Patriot’s winning a Super Bowl championship. In 2002, Dick’s dream and hopes finally came true; and he would live to see an amazing run of Patriots Super Bowl wins.

Dick was a loving husband to the late Judith G. Ledonne (1937-2016); and they were married for 55 years. He Is survived by his son Willam Ledonne and his wife Cherie of Cape Coral, FL, his son David Ledonne and his fiancé Robert Reed of Wakefield, and his daughter Laura Ledonne and her son Jackson Beede of Wakefield.

Everyone that met Dick adored him. He had an infectious smile and laugh. He will truly be missed by all.

The Ledonne family would like to thank the staff at the Jeffrey and Susan Brudnick Center for Living in Peabody, MA for their wonderful care of Dick over the last year.

Services for Dick Ledonne will be private; and he will be interred, alongside his late wife Judy, at the Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jeffrey & Susan Brudnick Center for Living, 240 Lynnfield St, Peabody, MA 01960. Arrangements were in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.