Richard (‘Tuna Tower’, ‘The Commander’, ‘Big Rich’, ‘Richie’, ‘Dick’) Tower, 66, of Brant Rock, MA, died peacefully after a courageous battle with endocarditis on February 10th, 2018 in Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital surrounded by the ones he loved most.
 
Richard was born in Morrisville, VT to Jean E. Osborn and True Tower on January 14th, 1952. He attended East Bridgewater High School, where he received high honors in track and field for pole vaulting, and graduated in 1970. He went on to study wildlife biology at University of Massachusetts Amherst and medicine at Bristol Community College, but his true education was earned on the North Atlantic Ocean.
 
Richard earned a living as a commercial fisherman battling tuna, baiting hooks, and breaking records for nearly forty years, the majority of which he spent on the F/V Unicorn (‘The Uni’) he fished out of Green Harbor and Brant Rock, MA.
 
Richard is remembered by friends as a “tireless man who never hesitated to put down what he was doing to help a friend”, “never afraid to show his soft side”, and “always willing to teach or advise you on how to get the job done.” He was a legendary outdoorsman and “one of the smartest, strongest, and loving men you could ever meet!”
 
Richard is survived by his beloved daughters, Kelsea and Grace; his devoted son, David; the mother of his children, Jodi; his brothers, Robert, Donald, and Peter; his granddaughters, Ella and Summer; and his former wife, Brenda Tower. He is preceded in death by his father, True; and his brother, Steven.
 
Friends and family are invited to a visitation at the Bartlett Funeral Home on Friday, February 16th, 2018, from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 17th, 2018, at 11 am at the Bartlett Funeral Home with Pastor Adam Boyd officiating. Richard’s ashes will be spread in private ceremonies in the Nantucket Sound and Brant Rock Harbor as he wished.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ‘The Richard Tower Memorial Fund’ at Rockland Trust Bank.
 
Richard’s family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit and the Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care Team for their compassion and support during his final days.